Triterpene-enriched extracts from Ganoderma lucidum inhibit growth of hepatoma cells via suppressing protein kinase C, activating mitogen-activated protein kinases and G2-phase cell cycle arrest.
The medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum) has been used in the Orient for the prevention and treatment of various diseases including cancer. Except for the immune enhancing properties of its polysaccharide constituent, very little is known about the anticancer activity of another major constituent, triterpenes. In this report, we studied the anticancer mechanism of triterpene-enriched extracts from G. lucidum. The triterpene-enriched fraction, WEES-G6, was prepared from mycelia of G. lucidum by sequential hot water extraction, removal of ethanol-insoluble polysaccharides and then gel-filtration chromatography. We found that WEES-G6 inhibited growth of human hepatoma Huh-7 cells, but not Chang liver cells, a normal human liver cell line. Treatment with WEES-G6 caused a rapid decrease in the activity of cell growth regulative protein, PKC, and the activation of JNK and p38 MAP kinases. The changes in these molecules resulted in a prolonged G2 cell cycle phase and strong growth inhibition. None of these effects were seen in the normal liver cells. Our findings suggest that the triterpenes contained in G. lucidum are potential anticancer agents.
Lin
Shwu-Bin
SB
Graduate Institute of Medical Technology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, 10016, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC. sblin@ha.mc.ntu.edu.tw
Li
Chyi-Hann
CH
Lee
Shiuh-Sheng
SS
Kan
Lou-Sing
LS
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D005591:Chemical Fractionation; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016195:G2 Phase / Q000187:drug effects*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D020940:Reishi / Q000737:chemistry; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D014315:Triterpenes; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases