title: Synergistic Apoptotic Effect of D-Fraction From Grifola frondosa and Vitamin C on Hepatocellular Carcinoma SMMC-7721 Cells.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the anticancer effect of a combination of D-fraction polysaccharide from Grifola frondosa (DFP) and vitamin C (VC) on hepatocellular carcinoma in vitro. DFP is a bioactive extract from the maitake mushroom. Anticancer activity was demonstrated using various concentrations of DFP alone or in combination with VC against the human hepatocarcinoma SMMC-7721 cell line. To investigate the anticancer mechanism, studies designed to detect cell apoptosis were conducted. Results from the MTT assay indicated that a combination of DFP (0.2 mg/mL) and VC (0.3 mmol/L) led to a 70% reduction in cell viability. Flow cytometry results indicated that DFP/VC treatment induced apoptosis in approximately 65% SMMC-7721 cells. Cell cycle analysis identified cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase following DFP/VC treatment for 48 hours. In addition, cellular morphological changes were observed using transmission electron microscopy. Western blot analysis revealed that the upregulation of BAX, downregulation of Bcl-2, activation of poly-(ADP-ribose)-polymerase (PARP), and the release of cytochrome c were observed in cells treated with the combination of DFP/VC, which showed that the mechanism of anticancer activity in the SMMC-7721 hepatocarcinoma cells involved induction of apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: 1 Evidence-Based Medicine Center, Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, People's Republic of China.|2 School of Medicine, Northwest University of Nationalities, Lanzhou, People's Republic of China.|3 Key Laboratory of Evidence Based Medicine and Knowledge Translation of Gansu Province, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: 4 School of Basic Medical Sciences, Gansu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yong-Feng
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: 2 School of Medicine, Northwest University of Nationalities, Lanzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: 5 Lanzhou University Second Hospital, the Second Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jia-Xin
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: 2 School of Medicine, Northwest University of Nationalities, Lanzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ya-Qing
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: 2 School of Medicine, Northwest University of Nationalities, Lanzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hong-Yun
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Gan
authors.affiliation: 1 Evidence-Based Medicine Center, Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, People's Republic of China.|3 Key Laboratory of Evidence Based Medicine and Knowledge Translation of Gansu Province, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ke-Hu
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001685:Biological Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D059447:Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D004357:Drug Synergism; D059565:G2 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects; D048691:Grifola / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001685:Biological Factors; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; D001205:Ascorbic Acid
keywords: D-fraction; Grifola frondosa; SMMC-7721; apoptosis; hepatic carcinoma; vitamin C