Abstract: In order to investigate the effects of Cordycipitaceae 40 and 44 fermentation on the metabolic products of Nepeta cataria, the experiment was divided into three groups(JK group, J40 group, and J44 group), and the metabolites of Nepeta cataria and the main metabolic pathways before and after fermentation were analyzed using metabolomics methods. The results indicated that, compared to the JK group, the upregulation of substances such as phenolic acids, amino acids and their derivatives, and flavonoids were more pronounced after fermentation with Cordycipitaceae strains 40 and 44 in Nepeta cataria. The cluster heatmap revealed that the J40 group had 265 upregulated differential variables, with amino acids and their derivatives accounting for the largest proportion (24.15%); there were 388 downregulated differential variables, with phenolic acids constituting the majority (21.39%). In group J44, 178 differential variables were upregulated, with phenolic acids accounting for the highest proportion (16.85%); 258 differential variables were downregulated, with phenolic acids also accounting for the highest proportion (23.64%). Among these, the product with the most significant metabolic difference was baicalin.

Key words: Cordycipitaceae, fungal fermentation, Nepeta cataria L., metabolomics, baicalin