Regulation of cell cycle transition and induction of apoptosis in HL-60 leukemia cells by the combination of Coriolus versicolor and Ganoderma lucidum

Anticancer potential of purified laccase enzyme from Trametes versicolor: specific cytotoxicity against thyroid and endometrial cancer cells

BACKGROUND

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, highlighting the need to develop novel therapeutic strategies that are more effective and have fewer side effects than conventional treatments. Enzymatic cancer therapy is a promising approach due to its high specificity and minimal toxicity. Among the various enzymes, laccase, a widely used biocatalyst, has shown significant potential for anti-cancer applications due to its proliferation inhibitory properties.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In this study, the enzyme laccase from Trametes versicolor was purified by three-phase partitioning and then its cytotoxic, genotoxic and apoptotic effects on thyroid cancer (TT) and endometrial cancer (Ishikawa) cell lines were investigated. Laccase exhibited IC50 values of 88.63 µM in TT cells and 1.68 µM in Ishikawa cells. The enzyme triggered apoptosis in Ishikawa cells and induced cell cycle arrest in S phase, while significantly increasing DNA damage in both cancer cell lines. Treatment with laccase led to downregulation of the anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-2 and upregulation of the pro-apoptotic gene Bax and the DNA damage repair genes Rad51 and ATM.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results emphasize the specific cytotoxicity and molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-cancer effect of laccase and demonstrate that laccase is capable of selectively targeting cancer cells and causing apoptosis and DNA damage. This study demonstrates the potential of laccase as a novel enzymatic therapeutic for the treatment of thyroid and endometrial cancer and warrants further investigation into its clinical application and efficacy.

Characterization of the three-phase partitioned laccase from Trametes versicolor strain with antiproliferative activity against breast cancer cells

An extracellular laccase from T. versicolor was 20.4-fold purified by three-phase partitioning with high recovery (245 %) and biochemically characterized in detail for the first time. Its molecular weight was found to be 66.39 kDa. The enzyme showed activity towards the substrates ABTS, 2,6-DMP, guaiacol and hydroquinone. The substrates with the highest catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) were ABTS and 2,6-DMP. The maximum laccase activity value was reached at 70 °C for all substrates; at 80 °C even an activity of >60 % could be maintained. The optimum pH values were 4.5, 5 and 5.5 for ABTS, 2,6-DMP and guaiacol, respectively. In solutions with pH values of 3.5 to 5, it was active for up to 6 h. Laccase activity was negatively affected by L-cysteine, kojic acid, β-mercaptoethanol, sodium azide and SDS. In contrast, non-ionic detergents showed no significant effects on the enzyme. The enzyme showed activity when exposed to low concentrations (<5 %) of the solvent's methanol, ethanol and DMSO. Among the metal ions, the enzyme showed strong sensitivity to Fe2+, while Ni2+ and Mn2+ showed increased activity. Biochemical analyses have shown that the laccase enzyme has superior properties compared to its commercial form (such as high temperature and pH stability, high affinity to its substrates and relatively high catalytic efficiency). Its anticancer effect on breast cancer cell lines was also investigated. The results emphasize the potential of pure laccase as an anticancer agent due to its selective lethal effect on breast cancer cells.

Successful Rescue of Wild Trametes versicolor Strains Using Sawdust and Rice Husk-based Substrate

&lt;b&gt;Background and Objective:&lt;/b&gt; &lt;i&gt;Trametes versicolor&lt;/i&gt; has not only been valued in medical use but also in environmental protection. One of the major challenges currently faced in the commercial cultivation of &lt;i&gt;T. versicolor&lt;/i&gt; is finding superior strains that can produce high yields. In an attempt to search for high-yield potential &lt;i&gt;T. versicolor&lt;/i&gt;, two wild strains, namely VNUA and BV, were isolated and evaluated for potential cultivation. &lt;b&gt;Materials and Methods:&lt;/b&gt; Optimized culture conditions were set up by one-individual factor-at-a-time. Four different kinds of culture media, including Czapek, Raper, PGA and modified Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA), were investigated to ascertain the optimal media. The efficiency of sawdust and rice grain for mother spawn production was evaluated. Different combinations of sawdust and rice husk were tested to investigate the most favorable substrate mixtures. &lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; The ideal medium and temperature for the favorable mycelial growth of &lt;i&gt;T. versicolor&lt;/i&gt; were PGA and 30°C, respectively. The optimal spawning material for upscaling of the mycelium was Treatment D (20% rice grain, 79% sawdust and 1% calcium carbonate). The strains were successfully cultivated in a basal substrate combination of sawdust and rice husk supplemented with wheat bran. Investigated strains responded differently to different substrates cultivation. Of note, compared with strain BV, strain VNUA showed a significantly higher biological efficiency (7.3%). &lt;b&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/b&gt; Wild &lt;i&gt;T. versicolor&lt;/i&gt; strains were successfully fructified under artificial cultivation conditions. Strain VNUA can be considered as a potential strain for commercial cultivation. The use of sawdust for the spawn production of &lt;i&gt;T. versicolor&lt;/i&gt; can reduce the cost of manufacturing.

Treasures from the forest: Evaluation of mushroom extracts as anti-cancer agents

Mushrooms provide a reliable source of bioactive compounds and have numerous nutritional values, which is one of the reasons why they are widely used for culinary purposes. They may also be a remedy for several medical conditions, including cancer diseases. Given the constantly increasing number of cancer incidents, the great anticancer potential of mushrooms has unsurprisingly become an object of interest to researchers. Therefore, this review aimed to collect and summarize all the available scientific data on the anti-cancer activity of mushroom extracts. Our research showed that mushroom extracts from 92 species, prepared using 12 different solvents, could reduce the viability of 38 various cancers. Additionally, we evaluated different experimental models: in vitro (cell model), in vivo (mice and rat model, case studies and randomized controlled trials), and in silico. Breast cancer proved to be sensitive to the highest number of mushroom extracts. The curative mechanisms of the studied mushrooms consisted in: inhibition of cancer cell proliferation, unregulated proportion of cells in cell cycle phases, induction of autophagy and phagocytosis, improved response of the immune system, and induction of apoptotic death of cells via upregulation of pro-apoptotic factors and downregulation of anti-apoptotic genes. The processes mainly involved the expression of caspases -3, -8, -9, AKT, p27, p53, BAX, and BCL2. The quoted results could lead to the classification of mushrooms as nutraceuticals used to prevent a variety of disorders or to support treatment of cancer diseases.

Mycomedicine: A Unique Class of Natural Products with Potent Anti-tumour Bioactivities

Mycomedicine is a unique class of natural medicine that has been widely used in Asian countries for thousands of years. Modern mycomedicine consists of fruiting bodies, spores, or other tissues of medicinal fungi, as well as bioactive components extracted from them, including polysaccharides and, triterpenoids, etc. Since the discovery of the famous fungal extract, penicillin, by Alexander Fleming in the late 19th century, researchers have realised the significant antibiotic and other medicinal values of fungal extracts. As medicinal fungi and fungal metabolites can induce apoptosis or autophagy, enhance the immune response, and reduce metastatic potential, several types of mushrooms, such as Ganoderma lucidum and Grifola frondosa, have been extensively investigated, and anti-cancer drugs have been developed from their extracts. Although some studies have highlighted the anti-cancer properties of a single, specific mushroom, only limited reviews have summarised diverse medicinal fungi as mycomedicine. In this review, we not only list the structures and functions of pharmaceutically active components isolated from mycomedicine, but also summarise the mechanisms underlying the potent bioactivities of several representative mushrooms in the Kingdom Fungi against various types of tumour.

Trametes versicolor (Synn. Coriolus versicolor) Polysaccharides in Cancer Therapy: Targets and Efficacy

Coriolus versicolor (L.) Quél. is a higher fungi or mushroom which is now known by its accepted scientific name as Trametes versicolor (L.) Lloyd (family Polyporaceae). The polysaccharides, primarily two commercial products from China and Japan as PSP and PSK, respectively, have been claimed to serve as adjuvant therapy for cancer. In this paper, research advances in this field, including direct cytotoxicity in cancer cells and immunostimulatory effects, are scrutinised at three levels: in vitro, in vivo and clinical outcomes. The level of activity in the various cancers, key targets (both in cancer and immune cells) and pharmacological efficacies are discussed.

Wound Healing and the Use of Medicinal Plants

Cutaneous wound healing is the process by which skin repairs itself. It is generally accepted that cutaneous wound healing can be divided into 4 phases: haemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodelling. In humans, keratinocytes re-form a functional epidermis (reepithelialization) as rapidly as possible, closing the wound and reestablishing tissue homeostasis. Dermal fibroblasts migrate into the wound bed and proliferate, creating “granulation tissue” rich in extracellular matrix proteins and supporting the growth of new blood vessels. Ultimately, this is remodelled over an extended period, returning the injured tissue to a state similar to that before injury. Dysregulation in any phase of the wound healing cascade delays healing and may result in various skin pathologies, including nonhealing, or chronic ulceration. Indigenous and traditional medicines make extensive use of natural products and derivatives of natural products and provide more than half of all medicines consumed today throughout the world. Recognising the important role traditional medicine continues to play, we have undertaken an extensive survey of literature reporting the use of medical plants and plant-based products for cutaneous wounds. We describe the active ingredients, bioactivities, clinical uses, formulations, methods of preparation, and clinical value of 36 medical plant species. Several species stand out, including Centella asiatica, Curcuma longa, and Paeonia suffruticosa, which are popular wound healing products used by several cultures and ethnic groups. The popularity and evidence of continued use clearly indicates that there are still lessons to be learned from traditional practices. Hidden in the myriad of natural products and derivatives from natural products are undescribed reagents, unexplored combinations, and adjunct compounds that could have a place in the contemporary therapeutic inventory.

Hepatoprotective Effects of a Functional Formula of Three Chinese Medicinal Herbs: Experimental Evidence and Network Pharmacology-Based Identification of Mechanism of Action and Potential Bioactive Components

Various Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) have shown beneficial liver protection effects. Jian-Gan-Bao (JGB), a functional herbal formula, consists of three famous CHMs, including Coriolus versicolor, Salvia miltiorrhiza and Schisandra chinensis, which has been used as a folk medicine for several chronic liver diseases. In the present study, we aim systemically to evaluate the effects of JGB on acute and chronic alcoholic liver diseases (ALD) as well as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in mouse models, and identify its potential bioactive components and mechanism of action. JGB showed preventive effects for acute and chronic ALD as well as NAFLD, while post-treatment of JGB showed no significant effect, suggesting the nature of JGB as a health supplement rather than a drug. Furthermore, a compound-target network was constructed to identify the potential bioactive compounds and pathways that regulate its hepatoprotective effects. There are 40 bioactive compounds and 15 related targets that have been identified via this network pharmacology study. Among them are miltirone, neocryptotanshinone II and deoxyshikonin, with desirable pharmaceutical properties. Pathways relating to inflammation, fatty acid oxidation, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production and cell proliferation were predicted as bioactive compounds and potential underlying mechanisms, which should be the focus of study in this field in the future.

Advances in Synergistic Combinations of Chinese Herbal Medicine for the Treatment of Cancer

The complex pathology of cancer development requires correspondingly complex treatments. The traditional application of individual single-target drugs fails to sufficiently treat cancer with durable therapeutic effects and tolerable adverse events. Therefore, synergistic combinations of drugs represent a promising way to enhance efficacy, overcome toxicity and optimize safety. Chinese Herbal Medicines (CHMs) have long been used as such synergistic combinations. Therefore, we summarized the synergistic combinations of CHMs used in the treatment of cancer and their roles in chemotherapy in terms of enhancing efficacy, reducing side effects, immune modulation, as well as abrogating drug resistance. Our conclusions support the development of further science-based holistic modalities for cancer care.

Anti-lung cancer activity through enhancement of immunomodulation and induction of cell apoptosis of total triterpenes extracted from Ganoderma luncidum (Leyss. ex Fr.) Karst

Ganoderma luncidum (Leyss. ex Fr.) Karst. (GLK) has been used traditionally for the prevention and treatment of cancers or tumors for a long time in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The triterpenes as main effective components of GLK have been found to be beneficial for the efficacy. The purpose of this study was to examine the anti-lung cancer activity of triterpenes of GLK in vitro and in vivo and to explore their anti-lung cancer effects and potential mechanisms. A549 cells and Lewis tumor-bearing mice were used to evaluate the inhibition effects of triterpenes on cell proliferation and tumor growth. The IC₅₀ of triterpenes of GLK on A549 cells was 24.63 μg/mL. Triterpenes of GLK could significantly inhibit tumor growth in mice (30, 60 and 120 mg/kg). The immune organs indexes including spleen and thymus were increased remarkedly by the treatment with triterpenes. Moreover, they were able to stimulate the immune response by increasing the expressions of IL-6 and TNF-α. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that cell arrest caused by triterpenes treatment (7.5, 15 and 30 μg/mL) was in the G2/M phase in A549 cells. Triterpenes induced apoptosis by decreasing the expression of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 and pro-caspase 9 and increasing the levels of cleaved-caspase 9. Our findings suggested that the triterpenes of GLK have anti-lung cancer activity in vitro and in vivo via enhancement of immunomodulation and induction of cell apoptosis. The study provides insights into the mechanism of GLK in the prevention and treatment of lung cancer.