Glycoproteins isolated from fruit bodies and mycelial cultures of mushrooms exhibit anti-carcinogenic actions in human cancer cells and animal tumor cells by induction of apoptosis. Here, we report that isoflavone-conjugated glycoproteins (designate Gluvone), exhibit strong anti-carcinogenic effects on human breast cancer MCF-7 cells by induction of apoptosis. Gluvone with 9.4 kDa of molecular weight was isolated from submerged-liquid culture of Agaricus blazei mycelia (ABM) in soy flake-containing liquid medium. MCF-7 cells were incubated with various amounts of Gluvone (0~250 μM) for a period of 6 days. Gluvone exhibited anti-proliferative actions in a dose-dependent manner and 62% growth inhibition at 200 μM for 4 days relative to control. Hoechst 33258 staining analysis revealed that Gluvone induced formation of apoptotic bodies. Gluvone was associated with down-regulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein expression as well as up-regulation of pro-apoptotic Bax protein expression. Gluvone treatment induced proteolytic activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3 through cytochrome c release from mitochondria to cytosol as well as concomitant degradation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). In addition, Gluvone induced activation of caspase-8. Taken all together, these results indicate that the anti-proliferative effect of Gluvone is associated with induction of apoptotic cell death through the mitochondrial dysfunction pathway mediated by enhancement of Bax protein expression and suppression of Bcl-2 protein expression.

The biological effects of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (cPAHs) including benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), dibenzo[a,h]anthracene (DBA), benzo[a]anthracene (BaA), benzo[b] fluoranthene (BbF), benzo[k]fluoranthene (BkF), and indeno[1,2,3-c, d]pyrene (

Commonly eaten fish, meat and other protein-containing foods show some level of mutagenic activity following normal cooking such as broiling, frying, grilling, roasting etc. The main food mutagens found in cooked products are $quot;heterocyclic aromatic amines$quot; . Several of them have been shown to be carcinogenic in rodent and suggested to be relevant for human cancer etiology. This review summarizes the chemistry, formation, occurrence and toxicity of food-borne heterocyclic aromatic amines. Factors that influence the formation of them are also discussed with special emphasis on dietary factors. From a health safety point of view, it is desirable to estimate the intake of heterocyclic amines via foods, and reduce or prevent the formation of food mutagens.