Antiproliferative and immunostimulatory activity of a protein from Pleurotus eryngii

• Published in: Journal of the science of food and agriculture 2014-12, Vol.94 (15), p.3152-3162
• Main Authors: Mariga, Alfred Mugambi, Yang, Wen‐jian, Mugambi, Dorothy Kemuma, Pei, Fei, Zhao, Li‐yan, Shao, Ya‐ni, Hu, Qiuhui
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adenocarcinoma; Adjuvants, Immunologic - pharmacology; Antinematodal Agents - pharmacology; antiproliferative activity; Antiproliferatives; Biotechnology; Cancer; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Cell Line; Cell Line, Tumor; cell proliferation; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Cells; characterisation; Cytotoxicity; doxorubicin; endocytosis; enzyme activity; Enzyme kinetics; extraction; fruiting bodies; Fruiting Bodies, Fungal - chemistry; Functional foods; Fungal Proteins - isolation & purification; Fungal Proteins - pharmacology; Hep G2 Cells; hepatoma; Humans; hydrogen peroxide; immunomodulatory activity; immunostimulants; In vitro testing; liver; Liver Neoplasms; Lung cancer; Lung Neoplasms; Macrophages - drug effects; Macrophages - immunology; mitomycin; Mushrooms; nitric oxide; paclitaxel; Pleurotus - chemistry; Pleurotus eryngii; Pleurotus eryngii (DC. ex Fr.) Quel protein; Proteins; stomach; Stomach Neoplasms; Toxicity; Tumors; Tumours
• ISSN: 0022-5142; 1097-0010
• DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.6665

BACKGROUND: Currently, the use of mushrooms as functional foods, nutraceuticals or phytopharmaceuticals source has risen. In contrast, the possible cellular cytotoxicity and immunostimulatory activity of Pleurotus eryngii (DC. ex Fr.) Quel protein (PEQP) is unknown. Here we report extraction, anti‐tumorigenic and immunostimulatory activity of PEQP in vitro. RESULTS: PEQP was extracted from the dried fruiting bodies of P. eryngii, purified and characterised. Its in vitro antiproliferative activity was then evaluated in human non‐small cell lung cancer A549 (NSCLC), stomach adenocarcinoma BGC‐823, hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 and gastric carcinoma HGC‐27 cell lines using conventional cancer drugs (paclitaxel, doxorubicin and mitomycin C) as positive controls. The protein fractions (PEQP 1, 2, 3 and 4) obtained inhibited tumour cell proliferation dose‐dependently with fraction PEQP 2 having significant (P < 0.05) toxicity in all tumour cells. PEQP had no significant toxicity on normal liver Chang cells but their proliferation was significantly inhibited by mitomycin C. Moreover, PEQP stimulated the proliferation, lysosomal enzyme activity, pinocytosis, nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide production of RAW 264.7 cell lines dose‐dependently. CONCLUSION: Based on these results, P. eryngii protein has a potential application in functional foods as a natural anti‐tumour agent with immunostimulatory activity. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry