Antrodia camphorata Mycelia Exert Anti-liver Cancer Effects and Inhibit STAT3 Signaling in vitro and in vivo

A review on the cultivation, bioactive compounds, health-promoting factors and clinical trials of medicinal mushrooms Taiwanofungus camphoratus, Inonotus obliquus and Tropicoporus linteus

Medicinal mushrooms, such as Taiwanofungus camphoratus, Inonotus obliquus, and Tropicoporus linteus, have been used in traditional medicine for therapeutic purposes and promotion of overall health in China and many East Asian countries for centuries. Modern pharmacological studies have demonstrated the large amounts of bioactive constituents (such as polysaccharides, triterpenoids, and phenolic compounds) available in these medicinal mushrooms and their potential therapeutic properties. Due to the rising demand for the health-promoting medicinal mushrooms, various cultivation methods have been explored to combat over-harvesting of the fungi. Evidence of the robust pharmacological properties, including their anticancer, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, antioxidant, and antiviral activities, have been provided in various studies, where the health-benefiting properties of the medicinal fungi have been further proven through numerous clinical trials. In this review, the cultivation methods, available bioactive constituents, therapeutic properties, and potential uses of T. camphoratus, I. obliquus and T. linteus are explored.

Plant-based foods and hepatocellular carcinoma: A review on mechanistic understanding

Regardless of etiology, hepatocarcinogenesis is frequently preceded by a distinctive sequence of chronic necroinflammation, compensatory hepatic regeneration, development of hepatic fibrosis, and ultimately cirrhosis. The liver being central immunomodulators, closely maintains immunotolerance. Any dysregulation in this management of immunotolerance is a hallmark of chronic hepatic disease and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Apart from other malignancies, hepatocellular carcinoma accounts for 90% of liver cancers. Several emerging evidences have recognized diet as lifestyle associated risk factor in HCC development. However, natural compounds have the potential to fight hepatoma aggressiveness via inhibition of cellular proliferation and modulation of oncogenic pathways. This review aimed to identify the several plant-based foods for their protective role in HCC prevention by understating the molecular mechanisms involved in inhibition of progression and proliferation of cancer. Information from relevant publications in which several plant-based foods demonstrated protective potential against HCC has been integrated as well as evaluated. For data integration, Science direct, Google scholar, and Scopus websites were used. Nutrition-based approaches in the deterrence of several cancers offer a substantial benefit to currently used medical therapies and should be implemented more often as an adjunct to first-line medical therapy. Furthermore, the inclusion of these plant-based foods (vegetables, fruits, herbs, and spices) may improve general health and decline cancer incidence.

Antrodin C Isolated from Antrodia Cinnamomea Induced Apoptosis through ROS/AKT/ERK/P38 Signaling Pathway and Epigenetic Histone Acetylation of TNFα in Colorectal Cancer Cells

BACKGROUND

Antrodin C, a maleimide derivative compound isolated from the ethanol extract of the mycelium of Antrodia cinnamomea, is an endemic fungus of Taiwan and a potential chemoprotective agent. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the mode of action of antrodin C on cancer cells, especially in human colorectal cancer (CRC), remain unclear.

METHODS

The cell death and ROS of the antrodin-C-treated HCT-116 cells were measured by annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide staining, DCFDA, and Fluo-3 fluorescence staining assays. Moreover, signaling molecules regulating TNFα cell death pathways and ROS/AKT/ERK/P38 pathways were also detected in cells treated with antrodin C by Western blotting and chromatin immunoprecipitation. The effects of antrodin C were determined in HCT-116 cell xenograft animal models in terms of tumor volumes and histopathological evaluation.

RESULTS

Treatment with antrodin C triggered the activation of extrinsic apoptosis pathways (TNFα, Bax, caspase-3, and -9), and also suppressed the expression of anti-apoptotic molecules Bcl-2 in HCT-116 cells in a time-dependent manner. Antrodin C also decreased cell proliferation and growth through the inactivation of cyclin D1/cyclin for the arrest of the cell cycle at the G1 phase. The activation of the ROS/AKT/ERK/P38 pathways was involved in antrodin-C-induced transcriptional activation, which implicates the role of the histone H3K9K14ac (Acetyl Lys9/Lys14) of the TNFα promoters. Immunohistochemical analyses revealed that antrodin C treatment significantly induced TNFα levels, whereas it decreased the levels of PCNA, cyclin D1, cyclin E, and MMP-9 in an in vivo xenograft mouse model. Thus, antrodin C induces cell apoptosis via the activation of the ROS/AKT/ERK/P38 signaling modules, indicating a new mechanism for antrodin C to treat CRC in vitro and in vivo.

AGA induces sub-G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human colon cancer cells through p53-independent/p53-dependent pathway

BACKGROUND

Despite the advancement in chemotherapeutic drugs for colon cancer treatment, it is still a life-threatening disease worldwide due to drug resistance. Therefore, an urgently needed to develop novel drugs for colon cancer therapies. AGA is a combination of traditional Chinese medicine Antler's extract (A), Ganoderma lucidum (G), and Antrodia camphorata (A); it contains a lot of biomolecules like polysaccharides, fatty acids, and triterpenoids that are known to exerting anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and anti-tumor activities in oral cancer. In this study, we investigate AGA anti-proliferative, anti-metastatic and apoptotic activity to explore its anti-cancer activity against colon cancer cells and its underlying mechanism.

METHOD

Here, in-vitro studies were performed to determine the antiproliferative activity of AGA through MTT and colony formation assays. Wound healing and transwell migration assay were used to evaluate the metastasis. Flow cytometry and protein expression were used to investigate the involved molecular mechanism by evaluating the cell cycle and apoptosis. The in-vivo anti-cancerous activity of AGA was assessed by xenograft mice model of colon cancer cells.

RESULTS

We found that AGA significantly inhibited the proliferative capacity and metastasis of colon cancer cells in-vitro. In addition, AGA induced cell cycle arrest in the sub-G1 phase through upregulating p21 and downregulating CDK2, CDK6 in SW620, and CDK4 in SW480 and HT29, respectively. Annexin-v assay indicated that colon cancer cells had entered early and late apoptosis after treatment with AGA. Furthermore, a mechanistic protein expressions study revealed that AGA in p53-dependent and independent regulated the apoptosis of colon cancer by downregulating the p53 protein expression in SW620 and SW480 cells but upregulating in a dose-dependent manner in HT29 cells and increasing the expression of Bax and caspase-9 to inhibit the colon cancer cells. In vivo study, we found that AGA significantly reduced the xenograft tumor growth in NOD/SCID mice with no adverse effect on the kidney and liver.

CONCLUSION

Collectively, AGA has the potential to inhibit colon cancer through inhibiting proliferation, migration, and cell cycle kinase by upregulating p21 protein expression and promoting the apoptotic protein in a p53-dependent and independent manner.

Antrodia cinnamomea exerts an anti-hepatoma effect by targeting PI3K/AKT-mediated cell cycle progression in vitro and in vivo

Antrodia cinnamomea is extensively used as a traditional medicine to prevention and treatment of liver cancer. However, its comprehensive chemical fingerprint is uncertain, and the mechanisms, especially the potential therapeutic target for anti-hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are still unclear. Using UPLC‒Q-TOF/MS, 139 chemical components were identified in A. cinnamomea dropping pills (ACDPs). Based on these chemical components, network pharmacology demonstrated that the targets of active components were significantly enriched in the pathways in cancer, which were closely related with cell proliferation regulation. Next, HCC data was downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus database (GEO). The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and DisGeNET were analyzed by bioinformatics, and 79 biomarkers were obtained. Furtherly, nine targets of ACDP active components were revealed, and they were significantly enriched in PI3K/AKT and cell cycle signaling pathways. The affinity between these targets and their corresponding active ingredients was predicted by molecular docking. Finally, in vivo and in vitro experiments showed that ACDPs could reduce the activity of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and downregulate the expression of cell cycle-related proteins, contributing to the decreased growth of liver cancer. Altogether, PI3K/AKT-cell cycle appears as the significant central node in anti-liver cancer of A. Cinnamomea.

Rhamnolipids from non-pathogenic Acinetobacter calcoaceticus: Bioreactor-scale production, characterization and wound healing potency

Rhamnolipids are predominantly produced from the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which restricts their scaled-up production and biomedical applications. Moreover, the wound healing property of rhamnolipids is mainly focused on either mono- or di-rhamnolipid congeners, which are obtained after extensive and costly purification procedures. Here, crude rhamnolipids from non-pathogenic Acinetobacter calcoaceticus BU-03 have been prepared and characterized and their wound healing potency evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Rhamnolipid extract was produced in a bioreactor by batch fermentation at a concentration of 12.7 ± 1.4 g/L. Characterization of the extract by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy and mass spectrometry revealed characteristic rhamnolipid peaks. Rha-C10-C10 and Rha-Rha-C10-C10 appeared as the predominant congeners along with minor quantities of six more congeners. The rhamnolipid extract obtained from A. calcoaceticus had no toxicity against mouse fibroblast L929 cells and accelerated their migration. Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) has been shown to promote fibroblast migration by activating Smad3. It was found that the rhamnolipid extract enhanced Smad3 phosphorylation in L929 cells. In vivo studies showed that it promoted wound healing in mice with excisional wounds. The protein levels of TGF-β1 and alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), a highly contractile protein, were significantly increased by 2.56- and 1.51-fold, respectively, in extract-treated compared with vehicle control-treated wounds, indicating that the activation of TGF-β1 signaling is possibly involved in the wound healing effect. These results suggest that a rhamnolipid extract obtained from A. calcoaceticus has potential as a wound healing material for topical application in cutaneous wound treatment.

Treasures from the forest: Evaluation of mushroom extracts as anti-cancer agents

Mushrooms provide a reliable source of bioactive compounds and have numerous nutritional values, which is one of the reasons why they are widely used for culinary purposes. They may also be a remedy for several medical conditions, including cancer diseases. Given the constantly increasing number of cancer incidents, the great anticancer potential of mushrooms has unsurprisingly become an object of interest to researchers. Therefore, this review aimed to collect and summarize all the available scientific data on the anti-cancer activity of mushroom extracts. Our research showed that mushroom extracts from 92 species, prepared using 12 different solvents, could reduce the viability of 38 various cancers. Additionally, we evaluated different experimental models: in vitro (cell model), in vivo (mice and rat model, case studies and randomized controlled trials), and in silico. Breast cancer proved to be sensitive to the highest number of mushroom extracts. The curative mechanisms of the studied mushrooms consisted in: inhibition of cancer cell proliferation, unregulated proportion of cells in cell cycle phases, induction of autophagy and phagocytosis, improved response of the immune system, and induction of apoptotic death of cells via upregulation of pro-apoptotic factors and downregulation of anti-apoptotic genes. The processes mainly involved the expression of caspases -3, -8, -9, AKT, p27, p53, BAX, and BCL2. The quoted results could lead to the classification of mushrooms as nutraceuticals used to prevent a variety of disorders or to support treatment of cancer diseases.

Gomisin N Exerts Anti-liver Cancer Effects and Regulates PI3K-Akt and mTOR-ULK1 Pathways in Vitro

Primary liver cancer is a lethal cancer. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway has been implicated in the pathogenesis of liver cancer. Gomisin N (GN), a lignan isolated from the dried fruits of Schisandra chinensis (Turca.) Baill., has been reported to reduce viability of, and induce apoptosis in, HepG2 liver cancer cells. In preadipocytes, GN was found to inhibit Akt activity. In the present study, Akt signaling-related anti-liver cancer mechanisms of GN were investigated. We confirmed that GN reduces cell viability of, and triggers apoptosis in, more liver cancer cell lines. Mechanistic studies revealed that GN lowers protein levels of phospho-PI3K (p85 tyrosine (Tyr)458), phospho-Akt (serine (Ser)473), and Akt downstream molecules Mcl-1 in HepG2 and HCCLM3 cells. Meanwhile, GN activates mTOR and inhibits ULK1 (a negative downstream effector of mTOR) activities. Activation of mTOR has been reported to suppress ULK1 activity and repress autophagy. Indeed, we observed that GN inhibits autophagy in liver cancer cells. In summary, we for the first time demonstrated that GN inhibits the PI3K-Akt pathway and regulates the mTOR-ULK1 pathway in liver cancer cells.

AB4 inhibits Notch signaling and promotes cancer cell apoptosis in liver cancer

The etiology for liver cancer has been clearly defined. Unfortunately, therapeutic approaches for liver cancer are rather limited, and liver cancer is insensitive to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has become a promising strategy for cancer treatment as TCM elicits broad spectrum anticancer activity. In the present study, we evaluated the anticancer efficacy of AB4, an extract from the medical herb Pulsatilla chinensis (Bunge) Regel, in liver cancer in vitro and in vivo. We found that AB4 readily dose‑ and time‑dependently inhibited liver cancer HepG2 and Huh‑7 cell proliferation and colony formation. Western blot and flow cytometry analyses suggested that AB4 treatment induced liver cancer cell apoptosis. Moreover, these findings could be readily recaptured in vivo, in which the AB4 regimen resulted in tumor suppression and cancer cell apoptosis in xenograft tumor‑bearing nude mice. Importantly, we noted that treatment with a Notch signaling inhibitor DAPT produced very similar anticancer efficacy in both HepG2 and Huh‑7 cell lines, and administration of DAPT also efficiently suppressed HepG2 xenograft outgrowth. To this end, we anticipated that AB4 and DAPT may act on the same signaling pathway, probably through inhibition of the Notch pathway. Indeed, we found decreased expression of Notch1 protein, as well as downstream targets Hes1 and Hey1, after AB4 treatment. Immunohistochemistry analysis further confirmed the suppression of Notch signaling in HepG2 xenograft‑bearing mice. Taken together, our study highlighted the anticancer efficacy of AB4 in liver cancer. We also provided preliminary data showing Notch as a therapeutic target of AB4. It would be interesting to investigate the anticancer efficacy of AB4 in other types of cancer with elevated Notch activity.

Protective effects of Antrodia camphorata extract against hypoxic cell injury and ischemic stroke brain damage

Ischemic stroke is the most prevalent stroke condition in the world resulted in either a transient ischemic attack or long-lasting neurological problems due to the interrupted or reduced blood flow to the brain. Antrodia camphorata is a well-known medicinal mushroom native to Taiwan and is familiar due to its medicinal effects. The current study investigated the protective effect of A. camphorata-alcohol extracts (AC-AE) against cobalt (II) chloride (CoCl₂ )-induced oxidative stress in vitro and ischemia/reperfusion-induced brain injury in vivo. The rats were pre-treated with AC-AE for 4 weeks. Our results showed that AC-AE reduced cell damage and decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in C6 and PC12 cells under CoCl₂ -induced hypoxic condition. AC-AE doses (385, 770, 1,540 mg/kg/day, 4 weeks) increased nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) mRNA expressions and decreased inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mRNA expressions in Sprague Dawley rat. Besides, it decreased stroke infarct size and increased the level of antioxidants in both brain and serum. Furthermore, it reduced the formation of malondialdehyde (MDA) after ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). Our results suggested that AC-AE exerted an effective reduction of ischemia stroke by regulating ROS production.

Hepatoprotective Effect of Antrodia cinnamomea Mycelium in Patients with Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has become a prominent liver disease in contemporary society because of the changing dieting styles. Complicated syndromes often accompanied by obesity and diabetes makes no standard treatment for NASH. Therefore, we investigated the potential role of Antrodia cinnamomea mycelium (ACM) as nutraceutical supplementation in the treatment of NASH in this 6-month randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

METHOD

28 Participants were treated with three capsules per day containing either 420 mg of ACM or 420 mg of starch as a placebo. The participants were required to follow a predetermined regular visit to hospital every three months during the intervention period (6 months). During each study visit, subjects underwent anthropometric measurements and blood testing for biochemical analysis, immune function assay, inflammatory cytokines assay, and FibroMax test.

RESULTS

The ACM supplemented group had a significant improvement in steatosis and decreased in the inflammatory marker of TNF-α after three and six months. NASH patients who received ACM showed a significant decrease in the SteatoTest mean value from 0.66 at baseline to 0.49 at 6 months (p < 0.029) and the ActiTest mean value decreased from 0.46 at baseline to 0.30 at 6 months (p < 0.029).

CONCLUSION

This is the first clinical investigation that explores the hepatoprotective effect of A. cinnamomea mycelium in patients with NASH. No participants experienced any adverse events during the study, which suggested that ACM is a safe alternative treatment for NASH.

Antcamphorols A-K, Cytotoxic and ROS Scavenging Triterpenoids from Antrodia camphorata

Antrodia camphorata is a rare and valuable medicinal mushroom. In this work, 11 new triterpenoids, namely, antcamphorols A-K (1-11), together with 10 known triterpenoids, 12-21, were isolated from dish-cultured A. camphorata. Compound 1 is an unprecedented C₃₁ lanostane-type triterpenoid featuring a methyl group at C-15 and a C-21-O-C-24 tetrahydropyran ring at C-17. Compounds 2-11 are ergostane-type triterpenoids, and they include two pairs of norergostanes 2-5. The structures of the new compounds were identified by NMR, 2D NMR, and HRESIMS data analyses. The absolute configurations of 1 and 6 were defined by X-ray diffraction data, and the absolute configuration at C-25 of 4 was determined by the modified Mosher's method. Compounds 7, 9, 10, 16, and 19 showed significant ROS scavenging activities (63.9-70.5% at 20 μM) in high-glucose-induced HUVECs. Compounds 3 and 8 exhibited moderate cytotoxic activities against U251 (IC₅₀, 9.2 μM) and MCF-7 (IC₅₀, 8.1 μM) human cancer cell lines, respectively.

The JAK2/STAT3 pathway is involved in the anti-melanoma effects of brevilin A

AIMS

Melanoma is lethal. Constitutively active signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) has been proposed as a pathogenic factor and a therapeutic target of melanoma. Brevilin A, a sesquiterpene lactone isolated from Centipeda minima (L.) A. Br. et Aschers., has been shown to exert antineoplastic effects and inhibit the STAT3 pathway in nasopharyngeal, lung, prostate and breast cancer cells. This study aimed to determine whether brevilin A has anti-melanoma effects, and whether STAT3 signaling is involved in the effects.

MAIN METHODS

A mouse A375 xenograft model, as well as A375 and A2058 cell models were employed to assess the in vivo and in vitro anti-melanoma effects of brevilin A. A375 cells stably expressing STAT3C, a constitutively active STAT3 mutant, were used to determine the role of STAT3 signaling in brevilin A's anti-melanoma effects.

KEY FINDINGS

Intraperitoneal injection of brevilin A dose-dependently inhibited melanoma growth in mice and suppressed STAT3 phosphorylation in the tumors. In cultured cells, brevilin A reduced cell viability, induced apoptosis, suppressed migration and invasion, decreased protein levels of phospho-JAK2 (Y1007/1008) and phospho-STAT3 (Tyr705), and restrained STAT3 nuclear localization. STAT3 over-activation diminished brevilin A's effects on cell viability and migration. Collectively, brevilin A exerts anti-melanoma effects and these effects are at least in part attributed to the inhibition of the JAK2/STAT3 pathway.

SIGNIFICANCE

Our findings provide a pharmacological basis for developing brevilin A as a new phytotherapeutic agent against melanoma.

Arnicolide D exerts anti-melanoma effects and inhibits the NF-κB pathway

BACKGROUND

Melanoma is a lethal cancer. NF-κB has been validated as a molecular target for melanoma treatment. Current therapies for melanoma have limitations. Novel targeted therapeutics are needed. Arnicolide D (Ar-D), a sesquiterpene lactone isolated from the dried whole plant of Centipeda minima (L.) A. Br. et Aschers., has been reported to inhibit NF-κB activity in colorectal cancer cells.

PURPOSE

To investigate the anti-melanoma effects of Ar-D in vitro and in vivo; and to determine whether Ar-D inhibits the NF-κB pathway in melanoma cells.

METHODS

A B16F10 allograft mouse model and two melanoma cell lines (A375 and B16F10) were used to investigate the anti-melanoma effects of Ar-D in vivo and in vitro. Dacarbazine was used as a positive control. Cell viability was assessed by MTT and crystal violet staining assays. Cell cycle arrest and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry. Protein levels were determined by Immunoblotting.

RESULTS

In vivo assays showed that the average tumor weight in Ar-D-treated group (4 mg/kg, i.p, 15 days) was reduced by 53.7%, when compared with the control group. In vitro studies demonstrated that Ar-D reduced cell viability, induced G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, elevated levels of cell cycle regulatory proteins p53 and p21, and lowered levels of G2/M checkpoint proteins Cdc2 and Cyclin B1 in melanoma cells. Mechanistically, Ar-D inhibited the activity of IKKα/β, the degradation of IκBα, and the phosphorylation and expression of NF-κB p65 in melanoma cells.

CONCLUSION

Ar-D has anti-melanoma effects, and inhibition of the IKK/IκBα/NF-κB p65 pathway is involved in the effects.

Diversity of potentially exploitable pharmacological activities of the highly prized edible medicinal fungus Antrodia camphorata

Antrodia camphorata, also known as A. cinnamomea, is a precious medicinal basidiomycete fungus endemic to Taiwan. This article summarizes the recent advances in research on the multifarious pharmacological effects of A. camphorata. The mushroom exhibits anticancer activity toward a large variety of cancers including breast, cervical, ovarian, prostate, bladder, colorectal, pancreatic, liver, and lung cancers; melanoma; leukemia; lymphoma; neuroblastoma; and glioblastoma. Other activities encompass antiinflammatory, antiatopic dermatitis, anticachexia, immunoregulatory, antiobesity, antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, antiatherosclerotic, antihypertensive, antiplatelet, antioxidative, antiphotodamaging, hepatoprotective, renoprotective, neuroprotective, testis protecting, antiasthmatic, osteogenic, osteoprotective, antiviral, antibacterial, and wound healing activities. This review aims to provide a reference for further development and utilization of this highly prized mushroom.