Ganoderma lucidum inhibits proliferation of human breast cancer cells by down-regulation of estrogen receptor and NF-κB signaling

Suppression of breast cancer: modulation of estrogen receptor and downregulation of gene expression using natural products

The main cause of cancer death among women is breast cancer. The most common type of breast cancer is the estrogen receptor positive breast cancer. Discovery of estrogen receptor provided a highly effective target for treatment of hormone-dependent breast cancer. Selective estrogen receptor inhibitors are useful for halting the growth of breast cancer cells and inducing apoptosis. Tamoxifen, a popular selective estrogen receptor modulator, can treat breast cancer but also has unfavourable side effects due to its estrogenic activity in other tissues. Many herbal remedies and bioactive natural compounds, such as genistein, resveratrol, ursolic acid, betulinic acid, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, prenylated isoflavonoids, zearalenol, coumestrol, pelargonidin, delphinidin, and biochanin A, have the ability to specifically modulate the estrogen receptor alpha. Moreover, several of these compounds speed up cell death by supressing estrogen receptor gene expression. This opens wide avenue to introduce number of natural medicines with a revolutionary therapeutic impact and few side effects.

Optimization of chemical conditions for metabolites production by Ganoderma lucidum using response surface methodology and investigation of antimicrobial as well as anticancer activities

Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum) is a medicinal mushroom that is known for its ability to produce compounds with physiological effects on human health. This research was undertaken to amplify the production of bioactive components of G. lucidum under optimal cultivation conditions, obtained in a submerged state and utilized in solid state fermentation, with the purpose of enhancing antimicrobial and anticancer activities. The results indicated that titanium dioxide (TiO2 NPs), magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgO2 NPs), and B6, along with glucose syrup and CLS syrups, were the most effective for producing GA, while wheat starch and whey protein, along with MgO2 NPs and B6 vitamin, stimulated polysaccharide production using the One Factor at a Time (OFAT) method. After screening, the response surface method (RSM) statistically indicated that the media containing 42.11 g/L wheat starch with 22 g/L whey protein and 50 g/L glucose syrup with 30 g/L CSL were found to be the best conditions for polysaccharide (21.47% of dry weight biomass) and GA (20.35 mg/g dry weight biomass) production, respectively. The moss of the fruit body of G. lucidum produced under optimal GA conditions had the highest diversity in flavonoids and phenolic acids and significant antimicrobial activity against Esherichia coli (E. coli) and Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis). In addition, the IC50 levels of shell and stem of G. lucidum were 465.3 and 485.7 μg/mL, respectively, while the moss did not reach 50% inhibition. In the end, the statistical approaches utilized in this research to elevate the levels of bioactive components in the fruiting body of G. lucidum produced a promising natural source of antimicrobial and anticancer agents.

Effect of the Aqueous Extract of Ganoderma lucidum on the Haematology, Oestradiol, Cholesterol and Protein Levels of Wistar Rats Fed with Monosodium Glutamate

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) at high concentration has been reported to alter the physiological and biochemical states of animals and humans. Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum) is a polypore mushroom reported to possess many medicinal attributes such as anticholesterolemia and the control of hormonal disorders. The present study investigated the effect of water extract of G. lucidum in the changes of haematology, oestradiol, cholesterol and protein levels of Wistar rats induced by MSG. Haematological analysis was determined from plasma, while oestrogen, serum total protein and cholesterol levels were determined from the serum of the rats. Results showed that MSG significantly raised the level of oestrogen (62.5 ± 0.28 pg/mL) in the rats which was significantly reduced in the rats fed with MSG for 30 days before treating them with the extracts of G. lucidum (30.85 ± 12.94 pg/mL–44.15 ± 0.92 pg/mL) and in rats fed concurrently with MSG and G. lucidum. The cholesterol level was significantly reduced in the rats treated with MSG and G. lucidum (200 mg/kg) concurrently compared to rats fed with MSG alone. The white blood cell (WBC) and red blood cell (RBC) levels were within normal in rats fed with both MSG and G. lucidum as in the control group while the rats fed with MSG only had low WBC, neutrophil (NEU) and RBC. This could imply that G. lucidum ameliorates the effect of MSG on serum oestrogen, serum cholesterol, WBCs, NEU, platelets and lymphocytes.

Ganoderma lucidum extract (GLE) impairs breast cancer stem cells by targeting the STAT3 pathway

The aggressive nature of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) may be explained in part by the presence of breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs), a subpopulation of cells, which are involved in tumor initiation, progression, metastasis, recurrence, and therapy resistance. The signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) pathway participates in the development and progression of BCSCs, but its role in TNBC remains unclear. Here, we report that Ganoderma lucidum extract (GLE), a medicinal mushroom with anticancer activity, acts on BCSCs in vitro and in TNBC pre-clinical animal tumor models by downregulating the STAT3 pathway. We show that GLE significantly reduces TNBC cell viability, and down-regulates total and phosphorylated STAT3 expression. This is consistent with the reduction of OCT4, NANOG and SOX2 expression, reduction in the BCSC population by loss of the ALDH1 and CD44⁺/CD24^– population, the deformation of mammospheres, and the strong reduction in animal tumor volume and tumor weight. Analysis of the BCSC compartment in tumors revealed that GLE decreases the STAT3 pathway and the expression of OCT4, NANOG, and SOX2 in BCSCs. These findings demonstrate that the anti-cancer activity of GLE targets BCSCs of TNBC through the downregulation of the STAT3 pathway.