The Effects of Ganoderma lucidum Extracts on P388 Leukemic Cells

摘要

Ganoderma lucidum (GL) is an herbal medicine with antitumor activity capable of suppressing the growth of various tumors in vivo. The exact mechanism of GL against tumor cells is not clearly understood. The present study aimed to evaluate the direct cytotoxic effect of crude polysaccharide fractions of GL extracts in P388 mouse leukemic cells (P388 cells). In addition, the activity of various antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase) were measured. GL had no cytotoxic effect, though it inhibited the growth of P388 cells in a concentration dependent manner. GL extracts significantly increased SOD activity. GL extracts exert no significant effects on glutathione peroxidase, and catalase activity. These data thus indicated that GL extracts exhibited no cytotoxic effect in P388 cells but they could inhibit the growth of P388 cells. The growth inhibition of P388 cells was not correlated with GSH peroxidase and catalase enzymes. This inhibition may result from the increased SOD activity.