Phytochemical Composition and Anticancer Cell Activity of Microporus xanthopus Extract

Microporus xanthopus is a medicinal mushroom known for its diverse bioactive constituents and potential anticancer properties. This study aimed to determine the phytochemical composition and evaluate the in vitro cytotoxic activity of different extracts of M. xanthopus against selected human cancer cell lines. The species were identified using ITS and LSU rDNA markers. Dried fruiting bodies were extracted with 96% ethanol to obtain a total extract, which was subsequently fractionated with n-hexane, chloroform, n-butanol, and water. Polysaccharides were further extracted from the ethanol-exhausted residue using hot and cold water. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, triterpenoids, polysaccharides, and carotenoids. Total polyphenol content ranged from 33.49 to 136.64 mg GAE/g extract, while total flavonoid content ranged from 19.05 to 238.04 mg QE/g extract. The polysaccharide content of the hot-water extract was 80.09 ± 1.76%, compared with 42.60 ± 1.93% for the cold-water extract. Cytotoxicity was assessed using the SRB assay against MCF-7, HepG2, NCI-H460, HeLa, and normal fibroblasts. Among all fractions, the chloroform extract exhibited the strongest activity, particularly against MCF-7 cells (IC50 = 122.67 ± 7.60 µg/mL), while showing moderate to low effects on other cancer cell lines and limited toxicity toward fibroblasts. These findings indicate that the chloroform fraction may serve as a potential source of anticancer compounds.