Apoptosis induction by Pleurotus sajor-caju (Fr.) Singer extracts on colorectal cancer cell lines

Abstract

Pleurotus sajor-caju (PSC) is an edible mushroom used in food supplements, presenting antitumor properties through induction of cell death pathways. The PSC potential against colorectal cancer was analyzed by exposing HCT116 cells to different PSC extracts. The PSC n-hexane extract (PSC-hex) showed the highest cytotoxicity effect (IC value 0.05 mg/mL). The observed cytotoxicity was then associated to apoptosis-promoting and cell cycle-arrest pathways. PSC-hex was able to induce apoptosis related to breakdown of mitochondrial membrane potential and ROS generation. The absence of cytotoxicity in HTC116 and HTC116 cells, alongside with an increase in p53, Bax and Caspase-3 expression, and decrease in Bcl-2 expression, supports that the pro-apoptotic effect is probably induced through a p53 associated pathway. PSC-hex induced cell cycle arrest at G2/M in HCT116 without cytotoxicity in HTC116 cells. These findings suggest that a p21/p53 cell cycle regulation pathway is probably disrupted by compounds present on PSC-hex. Identification of the major components was then performed with ergosta-5,7,22-trien-3β-ol representing 30.6% of total weight. In silico docking studies of ergosta-5,7,22-trien-3β against Bcl-2 were performed and results show a credible interaction with the Bcl-2 hydrophobic cleft. The results show that PSC-hex can be used as supplementary food for adjuvant therapy in colorectal carcinoma.

Pro-Health and Anti-Cancer Activity of Fungal Fractions Isolated from Milk-Supplemented Cultures of Lentinus (Pleurotus) Sajor-caju

“…Such an effect may be related to the higher level of phenolic compounds and the higher CAT and SOD activity. Similar effects of Lentinula edodes and Lentinus sajor-caju on HEp-2 and HeLa (cervical cancer) and L. sajor-caju on HeLa and HepG2 (hepatocellular cancer) were demonstrated by Finimundy et al [47,48]. In another study conducted by Seedevi et al, free radical scavenging activity was exhibited by polysaccharide isolated from L. sajor-caju [49].…”

“…Chaturvedi et al reported similar results revealing cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic effects of PSC water extract on HCT-116 cells [51]. The fungus was studied on other models, as well, and was shown to affect human cervical cancer HEp-2 and HeLa cells [47], breast cancer MCF-7 and non-small cell lung cancer NCI-H460 cells [48], and human gastric cancer (AGS) and hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2) [49]. Many more mushrooms and derived compounds have been demonstrated to possess anti-cancer activity.…”

Proteomic Research on the Antitumor Properties of Medicinal Mushrooms

“…Finimundy et al investigated the antitumor, specifically cell-death-inducing properties of P. sajor-caju on colorectal cancer model [147]. Pleurotus sajor-caju fruiting bodies extracts were obtained using various solvents [n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol and ethanol/water (1:1, v/v)].…”

An in silico approach for evaluating the antitumor and epigenetic modulating potential of phenolic compounds occurring in edible and medicinal mushrooms

“…Singer extracts. 45 Screening of the Potential Antitumor Activity of Pleurotus ostreatus Phenolic Compounds This study was focused to predict putative mechanisms of action of phenolic compounds occurring in P. ostreatus, those with significant Tanimoto's coefficient, since it would correspond to structurally similar molecules that present high probability to show a similitude in their biological activities. Twenty antitumor reference compounds showed structural similarity to 3 phenols occurring in P. ostreatus: protocatechuic acid, and the flavonoids myricetin and naringin.…”