Effects of extracts from sporoderm-broken spores of Ganoderma lucidum on HeLa cells

The effects of extracts from Ganoderma lucidum spores on the growth of huma n cervix uteri tumor HeLa cells as well as on the cell cycle and intracellu lar calcium level were investigated. Alcohol extracts were prepared from sp oroderm-broken and sporoderm-nonbroken spores (termed extract I and extract II) of G. lucidum. Extract I was then subjected to silica gel chromatograp hy to obtain extract III. Cytotoxicity was examined by means of trypan blue exclusion and MTT tests. It was found that extract I and extract III, but not extract II strongly inhibited the growth of HeLa cells, and that extrac t III was more effective than extract I. Moreover, extract III was shown to be capable of blocking the cell cycle at the transition from G(1) to S pha se and inducing a marked decrease of intracellular calcium level, determine d by flow cytometry and the specific fluorescent calcium probe Fura-2, resp ectively. These results imply that (1) the breaking of G. lucidum spores im proves the release of cytotoxic activity and (2) the effective extract migh t influence the cell cycle and cellular signal transduction by altering the calcium transport system.