Abstract:This study aimed to explore the inhibitory effect and related mechanisms of the extracted Lucid Ganoderma total saponins (LGTS) on colon cancer HCT116 cells. Ganoderma lucidum fruiting bodies were used as the raw materials, and the LGTS was extracted by alcohol and then purified. The inhibitory effect of LGTS on colon cancer HCT116 cells was detected by CCK8 method. Meanwhile, the state of cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. The intracellular mitochondrial membrane potential and intracellular reactive oxygen species levels were recorded by fluorescence spectrophotometer. The expression of apoptosis-related genes such as p53, noax, bax, bcl-2, caspase-9 and caspase-3 were measured by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR. The results showed that the concentration of LGTS above 40 mg/L could significantly inhibit the proliferation of HCT116 cells compared with the blank group, with the inhibitory effect becoming positively correlated with time. Through the intervention of GLTS, the apoptosis rate of cells increased significantly. At a GLTS concentration of 150 mg/L, the apoptosis rate reached 50.2%. Additionally, GLTS significantly reduced the intracellular mitochondrial membrane potential, increased the intracellular reactive oxygen species levels, upregulated the expression of pro-apoptotic genes (p53, noax, bax, caspase-9 and caspase-3), and downregulated the expression of anti-apoptotic gene(bcl-2). In conclusion, GLTS have the significant inhibitory effect on colon cancer cells and the effect could be achieved through the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway, suggesting GLTS as promising candidates for further research as potential anti-colon cancer drugs and food additives.
