Anti-breast cancer effect of Phellinus pini and its chemical composition characterization

Phellinus pini (P. pini) has been widely utilized as a traditional medicinal macrofungus in China and various East Asian countries. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that P. pini has important application value in anti-tumor therapy. However, its main anti-breast cancer active substances and mechanism are still unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that the methanol extract of Phellinus pini (PPE) could significantly inhibit the viability of 4 T1 cells, induce apoptosis, decrease mitochondrial membrane potential and S phase arrest of 4 T1 cells. PPE can restore the imbalance of intestinal flora caused by breast cancer and regulate the content of endogenous metabolites such as amino acids. Q Exactive UPLC-MS/MS analysis showed that polyphenols are the main chemical components that exert the efficacy. These results provide experimental support for the potential future treatment of breast cancer with P. pini.