Abstract
Phytohormones cytokinins are known to promote cell division in plants. Contrary, in animal's and human's tissues they induce apoptosis and block the cell cycle of a wide spectrum of tumour cells. Therapeutic effects of cytokinins, specifically their anticancer and immunomodulatory actions are similar to those of medicinal mushrooms. We detected cytokinins in mycelial biomass of two species of medicinal mushrooms growing in vitro (Fomitopsis officinalis strain 5004 and Hericium coralloides strain 2332) using HPLC-MS. Trans-zeatin, zeatin riboside, zeatin-O-glucoside and isopentenyladenine were found. Crude extracts and purified cytokinin fractions from mycelial biomass were tested on the growth and development of cultures of tumor cells lines: Hela (MTT-assay), T24/83 (viability and level apoptotic cells) and HepG2 (consumption of glucose). The effect of cytokinin fraction from mycelial biomass of Fomitopsis officinalis on pathogenic cells was higher compared to Hericium coralloides one. The data obtained revealed a higher cytotoxic/cytostatic effect of the purified cytokinin fractions in comparison with crude methanolic extracts; also higher apoptotic index was found. Under the influence of the test agents the intensification of glucose uptake into cells was observed. This indicator was higher for crude mushroom mycelium extracts, whereas under the action of purified fractions the glucose uptake rate was lower, thus decreased glycolysis level was recorded. Also, the effect of both crude extract and purified fraction from H. coralloides mycelial biomass on glucose uptake in the conditioned medium was lower against F. officinalis.These results confirm the assumption that biologically active substances of medicinal mushrooms with high pharmacological potential include cytokinins.
Highlights
Side effects of artificially synthesized drugs can be avoided only by means of natural preparations or those that are as close as possible to them in composition and structure of substances
Under the influence of the test agents the intensification of glucose uptake into cells was observed. This indicator was higher for crude mushroom mycelium extracts, whereas under the action of purified fractions the glucose uptake rate was lower, decreased glycolysis level was recorded. The effect of both crude extract and purified fraction from H. coralloides mycelial biomass on glucose uptake in the conditioned medium was lower against F. officinalis.These results confirm the assumption that biologically active substances of medicinal mushrooms with high pharmacological potential include cytokinins
Mycelial biomass was separated from the culture medium through filtration under vacuum followed by a double rinsing with 50 ml of potassium-phosphate buffered saline, pH 6.5
Summary
Side effects of artificially synthesized drugs can be avoided only by means of natural preparations or those that are as close as possible to them in composition and structure of substances. The urgent task of today is to find alternative therapies using natural biological raw materials. Medicinal mushrooms have a wide range of medicinal properties. They exhibit more than 130 therapeutic effects due to the content of biologically active substances in fruiting bodies and cultured mycelium that enhance innate and acquired immune responses and demonstrate antitumor activity in animals and humans [1, 2]. Polysaccharides and terpenoids are the most studied among them. Since the systematic study of the biochemical composition of mushrooms, the physiological and medical action of its components has
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