Effects of aqueous extracts from Pleurotus sajor-caju on the inhibition growth of breast cancer cell lines

Abstract

Introduction: Cancer is one of the major non-infection health problem affect worldwide including Thailand.  Several anticancer drugs have been orginated from natural products.  Pleurotus sajor-caju, an edible mushroom, commonly used for sources of nutritional foods in many countries including Thailand, belongs to the Pleurotaceae family and also has commercial cultivation with low cost of production.  It has been reported that the Pleurotaceae family have some bio-active effects, such as anti-oxidative, antiatherosclerotic, immunomodulatory and anticancer activities.  Few studies have been explored in P. sajor-caju as anticancer pharmaceutical source.  In this study, we primarily investigate the effects of an aqueous extracts from P. sajor-caju on the growth of human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7), human liver carcinoma cell lines (HepG2) compared to those of normal cells line (Vero cell).  Material and methods: Aqueous extract of P. sajor-caju was lyophilized to dryness.  Human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7), human liver carcinoma cell lines (HepG2), and Vero cell (normal cell) were used.  The cytotoxic activities of the compounds were assessed using the (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.  The comparison between cytotoxic effects of the extract and doxorubicin in the corresponding cell lines were also investigated.  Results: The results demonstrated that an aqueous extract of P. sajor-caju had cytotoxic effects with 50% cell growth inhibition (IC₅₀) against MCF-7, HepG2 and Vero cell at 200.96±15.42, 438.76±67.12 and 364.96±70.6 µg/mL, respectively, whereas  the cytotoxic effects of doxorubicin against MCF-7 and HepG2 showed an IC₅₀ at 3.50±0.60, and 0.99±0.20 µg/mL, respectively.  The extract had significantly cytotoxic activity on MCF-7 compared to those of normal cell line at a concentration of  250 and 500 µg/mL (p<0.005). Conclusion:  The results demonstrated that an aqueous extract of P. sajor-caju exerts anti-proliferative action on breast cancer cell line MCF-7, suggesting its anticancer properties. Therefore, the further study on the characterization of active compounds and the mechanisms underlying of the anticancer properties induced by P. sajor-caju would be extensively investigated.  This finding presented could provide interesting path for further investigation of a novel anticancer agent.