Comparison of anticancer effect of Pleurotus ostreatus extract with doxorubicin hydrochloride alone and plus thermotherapy on erythroleukemia cell line

Abstract

Abstract Background Recent studies have introduced Pleurotus ostreatus (Pleurotaceae) as a herbal medicine for treating different types of cancer. This survey utilizes P. ostreatus and doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) alone and then with hyperthermia to investigate the erythroleukemia cell line. This study evaluates and compares the apoptotic and necrotic effects of various treatments on the KG-1 cell line. Methods The proliferation of KG-1 cells was measured by using a tetrazolium salt (MTT)-based colorimetric assay during 96 h after treatment by gradient dilutions of 100 ng/mL to 100 mg/mL of P. ostreatus methanol extract and then the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined and was applied in additional experiments. Afterward, the cells were treated using P. ostreatus extract, DOX (6.95 mg/L), and hyperthermia (42 and 44 °C), separately and then applying hyperthermia. Finally, the ratios of apoptosis and necrosis after 24 h incubation were evaluated by using flow cytometry. Results The MIC of the extract was determined (1 mg/mL), which significantly increased the ratio of apoptosis rather than necrosis, whereas the DOX treatment primarily induced necrosis on the KG-1 cells. The anticancer effects of the mushroom extract were significantly increased when it was combined with thermotherapy, which exhibited apoptotic effects at 42 °C but induced necrosis at 44 °C. Conclusions The results suggest that P. ostreatus extract induces apoptosis on KG-1 cells and its anticancer effects are significantly increased in combination with thermotherapy. Therefore, P. ostreatus could be considered as an alternative with anticancer effect for further studies in erythroleukemia patients.