Anticancer, Apoptotic, and Mitotic Effectiveness of Lentinula edodes Microwave-Assisted Extract against Certain 2D Monolayer Culture Cancer Cell Lines

Abstract Background: Lentinula edodes ( L. edodes ), a wild edible mushroom, grows naturally when nitrogen is fixed in the soil by lightning strikes. It is found to possess different biological activities due to its active ingredients. Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the anticancer, cytotoxic, and mitotic activity of L. edodes against certain types of cancer cell lines. Materials and Methods: Ethanolic extract of L. edodes was prepared using a microwave-assisted extraction method. The cancer cell lines were cultured in Dulbecco’s modified eagle medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and antibiotics, whereas the normal cell line was cultured in Roswell park memorial institute supplemented with 10% FBS. For one time of exposure at 72 h, the cytotoxic effect of the ethanolic extract of L. edodes was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, a tetrazole (MTT) assay, a non-radioactive, fast assay widely used to quantify cell viability and proliferation. Mitotic index was measured to detect the effect of the extract on lymphocytes, using colcemid and phytohemagglutinin to activate and inhibit mitosis as controls. Results: The results revealed that the initial significant concentration of L. edodes extract on the HepG2 (hepatocellular carcinoma) cell line started at 25 µg/mL in a dose-dependent manner after 72 h of exposure, with highly significant differences at P < 0.05. The results also revealed significant cytotoxicity of L. edodes extract on the HCT116 (human colorectal cancer cell line) after 72 h of exposure ( P < 0.05). Conclusion: Besides the different biological activity of L. edodes , it may have important anticancer and cytotoxic activities, and it has no effect on blood lymphocyte mitosis. This encourages its use as a treatment for cancer in future.