Pinicolol B from Antrodia cinnamomea induces apoptosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells.
BACKGROUND
The medicinal mushroom Antrodia cinnamomea possesses anticancer properties but the active compounds responsible for these effects are mostly unknown.


OBJECTIVE
We aimed to identify novel A. cinnamomea compounds that produce cytotoxic effects on cancer cells.


METHODS
Using ethanol extraction and chromatography, we isolated the lanostanoid compound lanosta-7,9(11),24-trien-3β,15α,21-triol (1) from cultured A. cinnamomea mycelium. Cytotoxicity and pro-apoptotic effects of compound 1 were evaluated using the MTS assay and flow cytometry analysis, respectively.


RESULTS
Compound 1 produced cytotoxic effects on the nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell lines TW02 and TW04, with IC50values of 63.3 and 115.0μM, respectively. On the other hand, no cytotoxic effects were observed on non-tumorigenic nasopharyngeal epithelial cells (NP69). In addition, compound 1 induced apoptosis in TW02 and TW04 cells as revealed by flow cytometry analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results demonstrate for the first time the presence of pinicolol B in A. cinnamomea mycelium and suggest that this compound may contribute to the anticancer effects of A. cinnamomea.
Department of Medical Biotechnology and Laboratory Science, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 33305, Taiwan.
Tsung-Ru
TR
Wu
Department of Medical Biotechnology and Laboratory Science, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 33305, Taiwan; Center for Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan; Chang Gung Immunology Consortium, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan; Research Center of Bacterial Pathogenesis, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan.
Tsung-Teng
TT
Huang
Center for Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan; Chang Gung Immunology Consortium, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan; Laboratory of Nanomaterials, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan.
Jan
J
Martel
Chang Gung Biotechnology Corporation, Taipei 10508, Taiwan.
Jian-Ching
JC
Liau
Biochemical Engineering Research Center, Ming Chi University of Technology, New Taipei City 24301, Taiwan.
Chen-Yaw
CY
Chiu
Graduate Institute of Natural Products, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan.
Yann-Lii
YL
Leu
Chang Gung Biotechnology Corporation, Taipei 10508, Taiwan.
Wei-Ting
WT
Jian
Chang Gung Biotechnology Corporation, Taipei 10508, Taiwan.
I-Te
IT
Chang
Department of Respiratory Therapy, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 24205, Taiwan.
Chia-Chen
CC
Lu
Center for Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan; Chang Gung Immunology Consortium, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of the Pacific, Arthur Dugoni School of Dentistry, San Francisco, CA 94103, United States.
David M
DM
Ojcius
Chang Gung Immunology Consortium, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan; Chang Gung Biotechnology Corporation, Taipei 10508, Taiwan; Biochemical Engineering Research Center, Ming Chi University of Technology, New Taipei City 24301, Taiwan.
Yun-Fei
YF
Ko
Department of Medical Biotechnology and Laboratory Science, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 33305, Taiwan; Center for Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan; Chang Gung Immunology Consortium, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan; Research Center of Bacterial Pathogenesis, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan; Research Center for Industry of Human Ecology, College of Human Ecology, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan 33303, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Health Industry and Technology, College of Human Ecology, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan 33303, Taiwan. Electronic address: hclai@mail.cgu.edu.tw.
Hsin-Chih
HC
Lai
Center for Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan; Chang Gung Immunology Consortium, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan; Laboratory of Nanomaterials, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan; Chang Gung Biotechnology Corporation, Taipei 10508, Taiwan; Biochemical Engineering Research Center, Ming Chi University of Technology, New Taipei City 24301, Taiwan; Laboratory of Cellular Physiology and Immunology, Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10021, United States. Electronic address: jdyoung@mail.cgu.edu.tw.
John D
JD
Young
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055491:Antrodia; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D002460:Cell Line; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D025282:Mycelium; D000077274:Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014315:Triterpenes; C000619793:pinicolol B
Antrodia cinnamomea; Cell death; Cytotoxicity; Medicinal mushroom; Nasopharyngeal carcinoma