<i>In Silico</i>Pharmacological Analysis of a Potent Anti-Hepatoma Compound of Mushroom Origin and Emerging Role as an Adjuvant Drug Lead

Mushrooms are well-known to possess a continuum of anticancer metabolites that are vital in the development of anticancer adjuvant drug leads based on natural products. Owing to the fact that conventional cancer therapeutic methods were failed to lessen mortality caused by cancer to the estimated level with occurrence of adverse side effects, anticancer agents isolated from natural mushroom sources unarguably make an experimental research area worth mass focus today. The current study was targeted on in vitro cytotoxicity and in silico predictive pharmacological analysis of a flavonoid compound isolated from Fulvifomes fastuosus mushroom. Targeted compound was isolated from the mushroom using different chromatographic methods and identified by NMR spectrometry and mass spectrometry. Cytotoxicity experiments were carried out using MTT assay and apoptotic cells were identified by ethidium bromide/acridine orange staining. The SwissADME tool, BOILED-Egg construction model and Swiss target protein prediction software have been used to perform in silico predictive pharmacological analysis. The isolated compound has been identified as 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-6-[(E)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]-5'-methylspiro[2H-furo[3,2-c]pyran-3,2'-furan]-3',4-dione by spectrometric methods. The result of MTT assay showed that 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-6-[(E)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]-5'-methylspiro[2H-furo[3,2-c]pyran-3,2'-furan]-3',4-dione has potent anticancer activity for hepatoma against Hep-G2 cell line (IC50 = 20.8 μg/ml) being less toxic to normal CC-1 epithelial cells (IC50 = 167.00 μM). The cells treated with compound ex-hibited apoptotic features such as cellular shrinkage, nuclear fragmentation and condensed cytoplasm. In summary, 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-6-[(E)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]-5'-methylspiro[2H-furo[3,2-c]pyran-3,2'-furan]-3',4-dione has shown potent anticancer properties against hepatoma with less cytotoxicity effect on normal cells. Furthermore, in silico study has revealed that properties of 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-6-[(E)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]-5'-methylspiro[2H-furo[3,2-c]pyran-3,2'-furan]-3',4-dione may contribute to making a high absorption and clearance of the test compound as not interfering with the therapeutic failure of the compound. The properties of 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-6-[(E)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]-5'-methylspiro[2H-furo-[3,2-c]pyran-3,2'-furan]-3',4-dione were compatible with well-known anticancer drug lapatinib. In conclusion, 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-6-[(E)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]-5'-methylspiro[2H-furo[3,2-c]pyran-3,2'-furan]-3',4-dione has a high tendency to act as a good anticancer adjuvant drug in the treatment of hepatoma.

Molecular characterization of basidiomycetes associated with the decayed mangrove tree Xylocarpus granatum in Thailand

This study reports the frequency of decay(stem/butt rot)of Xylocarpus granatum trees at Hat Khanom-Mu Ko Thale Tai National Park,Nakhonsithammarat province,and other locations in Thailand,and the identification of purported causal basidiomycetes based on morphological and molecular analyses.Four survey plots at Hat KhanomMu Ko Thale Tai National Park were established and the incidence of butt rot determined.Percentage stem/butt rot incidence of X.granatum trees varied from 40.9 to 94.4%with an average of 85.5%along all four Plots.Trees in Plot 2 supported the heaviest incidence rate(94.4%),with the lowest rate in Plot 3(40.9%).Ninety-two basidiomes were collected,and 46 fungal strains(50%)isolated into axenic culture,the majority associated with tree roots(68.5%of all collections)with 31.5%from the tree trunks.Molecular results,based on LSU and ITS1,2,5.8 S rDNA analyses,confirmed that all samples belonged to the poroid genus Fulvifomes in the Hymenochaetaceae within the Hymenochaetales,Basidiomycota.The 43 specimens sequenced grouped into three clades;one clade comprised specimens isolated from only the trunks and branches(14 strains),while the remainders were from roots(29 strains)and shown to be salt tolerant.The stem/butt rot strains formed unique phylotypes which did not group with other known Fulvifomes species.