Cytotoxic action of Ganoderma lucidum on interleukin-3 dependent lymphoma DA-1 cells: involvement of apoptosis proteins

Aqueous extracts and a semipurified fraction obtained by methanol extraction and column chromatography were isolated from Ganoderma lucidum [Ganoderma lucidum (Curtis) P. Karst.; Ganodermataceae Donk] and their effects on interleukin 3‐dependent lymphoma cells (DA‐1) were studied. Cell viability was reduced by the action of unboiled aqueous extract and by the methanol‐extracted column‐chromatography semipurified fraction, producing DNA fragmentation in DA‐1 cells. Treatments with aqueous extracts showed increments of Bax after 13 h, increments of p53 and Mdm2 after 19 h and a reduction of these three proteins after 24 h. The methanol‐extracted semipurified fraction also induced increments of p53 and Mdm2 factors at 19 h with a reduction after 24 h. The methanol‐extracted column‐chromatography semipurified fraction from Ganoderma lucidum produced minor changes in the level of Akt after treatments for 19 h in DA‐1 cells with a slight reduction in the levels of NFkB‐p65 factor. Both the unboiled aqueous extract and the methanol‐extracted column‐chromatography semipurified fraction produced cleavage of inactive caspase 3, as a clear indication of induction of apoptosis by compounds present in Ganoderma lucidum. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.