Alpha-terpineol affects synthesis and antitumor activity of triterpenoids from Antrodia cinnamomea mycelia in solid-state culture

Food Funct. 2018 Dec 13;9(12):6517-6525. doi: 10.1039/c8fo02079e.

Abstract

To enhance production of Antrodia cinnamomea triterpenoids (ACTs) from mycelia in solid-state culture, α-terpineol was added to the medium as an elicitor at an optimal concentration of 0.05 mL L-1. Multi-stage solvent extraction and HPLC analysis were performed, and the compositions of ACTs-E (from culture with elicitor) and ACTs-NE (from culture without elicitor) were found to be quite different. In assays of in vitro antitumor activity, ACTs-E, in comparison with ACTs-NE, produced stronger viability reduction in several tumor cell lines and stronger apoptosis induction in HeLa in a dose-dependent manner. Several related proteins involved in the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis (p53, Bax, caspase-3) did not show expression upregulation by ACTs-E, suggesting that apoptosis induction occurred through a p53-independent process. Further analysis revealed that ACTs-E strongly inhibited synthesis of topoisomerase I (TOP1) and tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase I (TDP1), which are involved in DNA repair, at both transcriptional and protein levels. Our findings suggest that ACTs-E have potential for applications in the pharmaceutical, clinical, and functional food industries, as a novel antitumor agent and a dual TOP1/TDP1 inhibitor.

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / analysis
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / biosynthesis*
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology
  • Antrodia / chemistry
  • Antrodia / growth & development
  • Antrodia / metabolism*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Caspase 3 / genetics
  • Caspase 3 / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Culture Media / metabolism
  • Cyclohexane Monoterpenes
  • Cyclohexenes / metabolism*
  • DNA Topoisomerases, Type I / genetics
  • DNA Topoisomerases, Type I / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Monoterpenes / metabolism*
  • Mycelium / chemistry
  • Mycelium / growth & development
  • Mycelium / metabolism
  • Plant Extracts / analysis
  • Plant Extracts / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Triterpenes / analysis
  • Triterpenes / metabolism*
  • Triterpenes / pharmacology

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Culture Media
  • Cyclohexane Monoterpenes
  • Cyclohexenes
  • Monoterpenes
  • Plant Extracts
  • Triterpenes
  • alpha-terpineol
  • CASP3 protein, human
  • Caspase 3
  • DNA Topoisomerases, Type I
  • TOP1 protein, human