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Unveiling the anticancer potential of the ethanolic extract from Trichoderma asperelloides
Ana Carolina R Oliveira1, Flávia Santiago De Oliveira1, Ana Flávia Bráz1
1Laboratory of Inflammation and Cancer, Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Institute of Science Biological, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Abstract:
The discovery of new therapeutic alternatives for cancer treatment is essential for improving efficacy and specificity, overcoming resistance, and enabling a more personalized approach for each patient. We investigated the antitumor activity of the crude ethanolic extract of the fungus Trichoderma asperelloides (ExtTa) and its interaction with chemotherapeutic drugs. It was observed, by MTT cytotoxicity assay, that ExtTa significantly reduced cell viability in breast adenocarcinoma, glioblastoma, lung carcinoma, melanoma, colorectal carcinoma, and sarcomas cell lines. The highest efficacy and selectivity of ExtTa were found against glioblastoma T98G and colorectal HCT116 cell lines. ExtTa is approximately four times more cytotoxic to those tumor cells than to non-cancer cell lines. A synergistic effect between ExtTa and doxorubicin was found in the treatment of osteosarcoma Saos-2 cells, as well as with 5-fluorouracil in the treatment of HCT116 colorectal carcinoma cells using CompuSyn software. Our data unravel the presence of bioactive compounds with cytotoxic effects against cancer cells present in T. asperelloides ethanolic crude extract, with the potential for developing novel anticancer agents.
Insights
The fungus Trichoderma asperelloides extract shows potent anticancer activity, effectively reducing cancer cell viability. It also enhances chemotherapy efficacy, offering potential for new cancer treatments.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Pharmacology
- Cancer Biology
Background:
- Developing novel cancer therapeutics is crucial for enhancing treatment efficacy, specificity, and personalization.
- Fungal extracts are a promising source of bioactive compounds with potential anticancer properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the antitumor activity of the ethanolic extract of *Trichoderma asperelloides* (ExtTa).
- To evaluate the synergistic effects of ExtTa in combination with conventional chemotherapeutic drugs.
Main Methods:
- Cytotoxicity was assessed using the MTT assay across various human cancer cell lines (breast, glioblastoma, lung, melanoma, colorectal, sarcoma).
- Drug synergy was analyzed using CompuSyn software for combinations of ExtTa with doxorubicin and 5-fluorouracil.
Main Results:
- ExtTa demonstrated significant cytotoxicity against multiple cancer cell lines, with high efficacy and selectivity against glioblastoma T98G and colorectal HCT116 cells.
- ExtTa exhibited approximately fourfold greater cytotoxicity towards tumor cells compared to non-cancer cell lines.
- Synergistic effects were observed between ExtTa and doxorubicin in osteosarcoma cells, and between ExtTa and 5-fluorouracil in colorectal carcinoma cells.
Conclusions:
- The ethanolic crude extract of *Trichoderma asperelloides* contains bioactive compounds with significant cytotoxic effects against various cancer cells.
- ExtTa shows potential as a source for developing novel anticancer agents and enhancing existing chemotherapies.
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