Journal Article

Chaga (Inonotus obliquus), a Future Potential Medicinal Fungus in Oncology? A Chemical Study and a Comparison of the Cytotoxicity Against Human Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells (A549) and Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells (BEAS-2B)

Eldin de Pécoulas, Philippe, Dubreule, Christelle, Géry, Antoine, Bouchart, Valérie, Krivomaz, Tetyana, Rioult, Jean-Philippe, André, Véronique, Heutte, Natacha, Garon, David

2018

Overview

Background: Inonotus obliquus, also known as Chaga, is a parasitic fungus growing on birches and used in traditional medicine (especially by Khanty people) to treat various health problems. In this study, we aimed to quantify the 3 metabolites frequently cited in literature, that is, betulin, betulinic acid, and inotodiol in the Chaga recently discovered in forests located in Normandy (France), and to compare their concentrations with Ukrainian and Canadian Chaga. This study also explores the cytotoxicity of the French Chaga against cancer-derived cells and transformed cells. Methods: A quantification method by HPLC-MS-MS (high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry) of betulin, betulinic acid, and inotodiol was developed to study the French Chaga and compare the concentration of these metabolites with extracts provided from Chaga growing in Canada and Ukraine. This method was also used to identify and quantify those 3 compounds in other traditional preparations of Chaga (aqueous extract, infusion, and decoction). Among these preparations, the aqueous extract that contains betulin, betulinic acid, and inotodiol was chosen to evaluate and compare its cytotoxic activity toward human lung adenocarcinoma cells (A549 line) and human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B line). Results: French Chaga contains betulin and betulinic acid at higher levels than in other Chaga, whereas the concentration of inotodiol is greater in the Canadian Chaga. Moreover, the results highlighted a cytotoxic activity of the Chaga’s aqueous extract after 48 and 72 hours of exposure with a higher effect on cancer-derived cells A549 than on normal transformed cells BEAS-2B (P = 0.025 after 48 hours of exposure and P = 0.004 after 72 hours of exposure).

• Publisher: SAGE Publications,SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC,SAGE Publishing
• Subject: A549 Cells / Acids / Adenocarcinoma / Adenocarcinoma of Lung - pathology / Antineoplastic Agents - isolation & purification / Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology / Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use / Betulinic acid / Bronchi - drug effects / Bronchi - pathology / Cancer / Cell Extracts - chemistry / Cell Extracts - isolation & purification / Cell Extracts - pharmacology / Cell Extracts - therapeutic use / Cells, Cultured / Chemical Sciences / Cytotoxicity / Cytotoxins - isolation & purification / Cytotoxins - pharmacology / Cytotoxins - therapeutic use / Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor / Epithelial cells / Epithelial Cells - drug effects / Epithelial Cells - physiology / Fungi / High-performance liquid chromatography / Humans / Life Sciences / Lung cancer / Lung Neoplasms - pathology / Mass spectroscopy / Medical Oncology - methods / Medical Oncology - trends / Medicinal Chemistry / Medicine, Traditional - methods / Metabolites / Microbiology and Parasitology / Mycology / Oncology / Polyporus - chemistry / Poria - chemistry / Respiratory Mucosa - drug effects / Respiratory Mucosa - pathology / Traditional medicine / Transformed cells