Assessment of the Impact of Wild Stinkhorn Mushroom Extracts on Different Cancer Cell Proliferation and Study of Primary Metabolites

Objective: Present study aims to evaluate the efficacy of methanolic and ethyl acetate extracts of wild mushroom Phallus sp. on cell proliferation of both normal and cancer cells. This study also looked at anti-oxidant potentiality of methanolic extract and also unravels the phytochemical profiling of both extracts. Methods: Anti-proliferative activity was assessed by MTT assay on different human cancer cell lines such as MCF-7, MOLT-4, REH and Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells or PBMC isolated from a healthy donor. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis was used for comparative assessment of phytochemical constituents of both extracts. The anti-oxidant profile of methanolic extract was also evaluated by DPPH and ABTS•+ assays. Results: Results indicated that the both methanolic and ethyl acetate extracts of Phallus sp. showed appreciable anti-proliferative activity against breast cancer cell line MCF-7 with IC₅₀ of 8.544±2.812 μg/mL and 35.279±2.863 μg/mL respectively. Both of the extracts also showed its moderate impact on human B cell precursor leukemia cell line (REH) with IC₅₀ of 25.987±2.696 μg/mL for methanol and 51.484±1.480 μg/mL for ethyl acetate extract respectively. No effect was observed in MOLT-4 cell line. Methanolic extract was selected as better anti cancer extract over ethyl acetate extract. No significant anti-proliferative activity was observed in normal PBMC by both extracts. GC-MS analysis indicated that 43 and 114 compounds were identified from methanolic and ethyl acetate extracts respectively. Among them nine compounds shared its existence in both of the extracts. Different derivatives of ergosterol and several fatty acid esters ware identified as major components from both of the extracts. Methanolic extracts of the Phallus sp. showed its effectiveness on both of DPPH and ABTS•+ free radical, and result indicated that it contain more flavonoid content than phenol. Conclusion: The methanolic extract of Phallus sp. show very specific anti-proliferative effect on MCF-7 with moderate anti-oxidant activity and holds a great promise for isolation of bio molecules for treating Breast Cancer. Several derivatives of ergosterol identified as probable anti-cancer compound.