Anti-cancer property of Lenzites betulina (L) Fr. on cervical cancer cell lines and its anti-tumor effect on HeLa-implanted mice
Authors: Sanyal Tapojyoti , Ghosh Swapan Kumar 
Published: February 2019

In global scenario cervical cancer is increasing. New drugs from natural compounds are in search. Mushrooms are now recognized as miniature pharmaceutical factories producing hundreds of novel constituents. We have taken ethanolic extract Lenzities betulina (LBE) wild mushroom for evaluation of its as anti-cancer property against cervical cancer cell lines e.g. HeLa, CaSki and SiHa and anti tumor activity against HeLa implanted tumor on mice. The extraction was done by dip and stirring method in 90% ethanol for 72 h. For evaluation of anti-cervical cancer, several assays were performed such as MTT assay, cell morphology by phase contrast microscope and F-action polymerization by Laser scanning confocal microscope and nuclear morphology DAPI staining under inverted fluorescence microscope, MMP, ROS, cell cycle, autophagy and stem cell population by flow cytometry and DNA laddering were done. Western blotting was done for protein expression. To evaluate anti-metastatic activity, anti-cologenic assay and wound healing assay were adopted. For chemo-analysis of the LBE, GC-MS was done. The results from Cytotoxicity assay showed that at highest dose of LBE (1000 µg/ml) after 24 h, percentage of cell inhibitions were 85.13 %, 77.13 % and 47.70 % against HeLa, CaSki and SiHa respectively and the calculated IC50 values were 492.52 ± 2.6 µg/ml, 612.22 ± 4.2 µg/ml, and 1210.30 ± 6.4 µg/ml respectively. Depending upon the cytotoxicity screening, HeLa cell line was considered for the further studies. Cell morphology study exhibited that LBE treated HeLa cells became round from normal spindle shape. DAPI staining showed that LBE treated nucleus became condensed and fragmented. DNA fragmentation at 230 and 300 base pair zone from agarose gel assay was observed. LBE induced ROS generation and reduced MMP. It up regulated the expression of apoptotic genes and p53 while down regulated Bcl2, pro-caspase 3 and pro caspase-9 gene. Cell cycle was arrested at G2/M checkpoint. Autophagic induction was exhibited by vacuole formation in treated cells. CSC population of treated cells was reduced and F-actin polymerization was observed in treated cells. In addition, LBE suppressed metastatic nature by inhibition of cell migration and colonization. The inhibition of growth of the tumors in HeLa cell-implanted mice showed that treatment with 50 mg LBE/kg of body weight of mice led to a marked reduction in the volume (93.22 ± 9.2 %) and weight (90.42 ±9.55 %) of the tumors. The GC-MS profile of LBE shows that out of 69 compounds, 9, 12-Octadecadienoic acid (Z, Z) and Ergosta-5, 8, 22-trien-3-ol, (3.beta22E) are in a significantly higher proportion with the percentage peak area 22.13 and 19.72 respectively. Library search for bioactivity showed that these compounds are anti-cancerous and interestingly 4’-Hydroxy-6-methoxyaurone binding with P-glycoprotein inhibits the cancer cells to become drug resistant. In conclusion, LBE is very prominent anti-cervical cancer having a lot of anti-cancerous compounds which are probably acting synergistically. This report of anti-cervical cancer property of L. betulina is probably first time in oncology. Its therapeutic use in human model is urgent for new drug development.