Novel wild edible mushroom Astraeus hygrometricus (Pers.) Morgan induces robust apoptosis on human acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells through a RONS-subsisted mitochondria-dependent pathway

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential medicinal benefits of the Astraeus
hygrometricus (Pers.) Morgan, a newly discovered wild edible fungus, on cells that have developed acute
lymphoblastic leukemia in humans.Methods: Using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium
bromide (MTT) assay, a battery of tests was conducted to determine the antiproliferative and chemopreventive
potential of various extracts from five wild mushrooms: A. hygrometricus, Phallus sp., Lentinus sp., Tricholoma
sp., and Serpula sp. The results were evaluated against a panel of six cancer cell lines and normal cells. The
following were examined using flow cytometry: cell cycle profiling, apoptosis determination, intracellular
reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS), and mitochondrial membrane potential. We analysed the
expression pattern of mitochondrial proteins and used colorimetric methods to quantify caspase activity. A.
hygrometricus methanol extract showed the most antiproliferative effect, whereas MOLT-4 cells were the most
sensitive, according to the results. Mushroom extract effectively halted cell cycle development at the G0/G1
stage and produced strong selective apoptosis in MOLT-4 cells. In MOLT-4 cells, the extract increased ROS
generation and altered the potential of the mitochondrial membrane. By activating the caspase cascade,
downregulating Bcl-2 expression, and boosting Bax expression, the methanol extract triggered apoptosis. In
conclusion, the new edible wild mushroom may have biomolecules that may be used in the creation of
antileukemic medications.