title: Mechanism of Hericium erinaceus (Yamabushitake) mushroom-induced apoptosis of U937 human monocytic leukemia cells.
abstract: Phytochemicals in some foods are a potential source of bioactive safe compounds for cancer chemoprevention and suppression of tumor initiation, promotion, and metastasis. In the present study, we evaluated hot water (HWE), microwaved 50% ethanol (MWE), acidic (ACE), and alkaline (AKE) extracts of the fruitbody (sporocarp) of Hericium erinaceus (Yamabushitake, Lion's Mane) mushrooms for their ability to induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) in U937 human monocytic leukemia cells. Cell culture, cell viability, cytotoxicity, flow cytometry, chromosomal DNA integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential, expression of pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins, and activation and inhibition of caspase assays were carried out to help define the mechanism of observed apoptosis. The aqueous and aqueous/ethanolic extracts were active in all assays, whereas the acidic and alkaline extracts with the similar proximate compositions were both inactive. The results of the bioassays with the active extracts are consistent with an apoptosis mechanism governing suppression of the cell proliferation pathway that involves activation of mitochondria-mediated caspase-3 and caspase-9 but not caspase-8. Proximate analysis of the freeze-dried mushroom powder showed that it contains high amounts of proteins, carbohydrates, and minerals. The results indicate that H. erinaceus mushrooms may have therapeutic potential against human leukemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon 443-749, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Phil
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Mi Young
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Yong Hee
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Jae Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seok Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.forename: Mendel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Friedman
mesh_terms: D000363:Agaricales / Q000737:chemistry*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001688:Biological Products / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D053181:Caspase 8 / Q000378:metabolism; D053453:Caspase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D018890:Chemoprevention / Q000379:methods; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D020298:U937 Cells
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; C505530:CASP8 protein, human; C506433:CASP9 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D053181:Caspase 8; D053453:Caspase 9