EFFECT OF MAITAKE MUSHROOM EXTRACT IN HUMAN BREAST CANCER CELLS.

MANUELA MEIRELES, ANA SOFIA ROCHA, GABRIELA BALOGH ,RAQUEL SOARES.

PORTO, PORTUGAL

Workshop; VIII CONGRESO DE NUTRICION Y ALIMENTACION; 2009

  Background:  Maitake  mushroom  has  various  bioactive  compounds.  D-fraction,  a protein-bound polysaccharide compound, seems to be the most potent for enhancing the  immune  system  via  oral  administration  or  injection.  In  previous  studies,  the combination of this extract with chemotherapy suggested that the D-Fraction may have the potential to decrease the size of lung, liver, and breast tumors in cancer patients.     Objective:The  aim  of  this  study  was  to  examine  the  in  vitro  effect  of  maitake  D- Fraction on breast cancer MCF7 cells.     Methods:  Cultures  of MCF7 cells, incubated with increased concentrations of liquid maitake D-fraction, 0mg/ml ; 18,3pg/ml; 36pg/ml; 91pg/ml; 183pg/ml; 367pg/ml, were evaluated for viability, by MTS assay and apoptosis, by TUNEL assay. All experiments were performed in triplicate.     Results: Results seem to indicate  that maitake-treated  cells have higher apoptosis levels and poorer viability when compared to non-treated cell cultures.     Conclusion:  The  results  obtained  in  this  study,  focusing  the  effect  of  maitake  D- fraction in  breast cancer cell proliferation, can drive us to new therapeutic strategies against breast  cancer and  show that  we can find a lot  of  bioactive  compounds in traditional food.