Induction of apoptosis by Coprinus disseminatus mycelial culture broth extract in human cervical carcinoma cells

Extract of Coprinus disseminatus (pers. Fr.) (C. disseminatus) culture brot h (EDCB) inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in the human cervical carcinoma cells at 5 mu g/ml. To determine whether the cell death induced by the EDCB recruits caspases or not, one of the exclusive pathways in cell death, we examined caspase-3 activity in this cell death process. The acti vity of caspase-3 was remarkably increased when the cell was treated with E DCB, and this activity was nullified by Z-VAD-FMK, a well known caspase-3 i nhibitor. From these results, we would expect the EDCB to contain substance s with the ability to induce apoptosis in the human cervical carcinoma cell s. The extent of the EDCB induced apoptosis is cell line-dependent.