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White button mushroom phytochemicals inhibit aromatase activity and breast cancer cell proliferation
1Division of Immunology, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA.
Abstract:
Estrogen is a major factor in the development of breast cancer. In situ estrogen production by aromatase/estrogen synthetase in breast cancer plays a dominant role in tumor proliferation. Because natural compounds such as flavones and isoflavones have been shown to be inhibitors of aromatase, it is thought that vegetables that contain these phytochemicals can inhibit aromatase activity and suppress breast cancer cell proliferation. Heat-stable extracts were prepared from vegetables and screened for their ability to inhibit aromatase activity in a human placental microsome assay. The white button mushroom (species Agaricus bisporus) suppressed aromatase activity dose dependently. Enzyme kinetics demonstrated mixed inhibition, suggesting the presence of multiple inhibitors or more than one inhibitory mechanism. "In cell" aromatase activity and cell proliferation were measured using MCF-7aro, an aromatase-transfected breast cancer cell line. Phytochemicals in the mushroom aqueous extract inhibited aromatase activity and proliferation of MCF-7aro cells. These results suggest that diets high in mushrooms may modulate the aromatase activity and function in chemoprevention in postmenopausal women by reducing the in situ production of estrogen.
Insights
White button mushrooms contain compounds that inhibit aromatase, an enzyme crucial for breast cancer growth. This suggests mushrooms may help prevent breast cancer by reducing estrogen production in postmenopausal women.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Biochemistry
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Estrogen is a key driver of breast cancer development and proliferation.
- Aromatase/estrogen synthetase facilitates in situ estrogen production within breast tumors.
- Certain natural compounds, like flavones and isoflavones found in vegetables, are known aromatase inhibitors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To screen vegetable extracts for aromatase inhibitory activity.
- To investigate the potential of mushrooms in suppressing breast cancer cell proliferation.
- To explore the chemopreventive role of mushrooms in postmenopausal women.
Main Methods:
- Preparation of heat-stable vegetable extracts.
- Screening for aromatase inhibition using a human placental microsome assay.
- Enzyme kinetics analysis and in-cell assays on MCF-7aro breast cancer cells.
Main Results:
- White button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) extracts dose-dependently suppressed aromatase activity.
- Enzyme kinetics indicated mixed inhibition, suggesting multiple inhibitory compounds or mechanisms.
- Mushroom extract phytochemicals inhibited both in-cell aromatase activity and MCF-7aro cell proliferation.
Conclusions:
- Dietary intake of mushrooms may modulate aromatase activity.
- Mushrooms show potential for chemoprevention in postmenopausal women by reducing local estrogen synthesis.
- Further research into mushroom-derived compounds could lead to novel breast cancer prevention strategies.