Chaga (Inonotus obliquus), a Future Potential Medicinal Fungus in Oncology? A Chemical Study and a Comparison of the Cytotoxicity Against Human Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells (A549) and Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells (BEAS-2B)

• Published in: Integrative Cancer Therapies
• Main Authors: Géry, Antoine, Dubreule, Christelle, Andre, Veronique, Rioult, Jean-Philippe, Bouchart, Valérie, Heutte, Natacha, Eldin de Pécoulas, Philippe, Krivomaz, Tetyana, Garon, David
• Other Authors: Centre Régional de Lutte contre le Cancer François Baclesse Caen (UNICANCER/CRLC), Normandie Université (NU)-UNICANCER-Tumorothèque de Caen Basse-Normandie (TCBN), LABÉO, Pôle d’analyses et de recherche de Normandie (LABÉO), Université de Rouen Normandie (UNIROUEN), Normandie Université (NU), Kyiv National University of Architecture and Construction Kiev, Ukraine (KNUAC), Aliments Bioprocédés Toxicologie Environnements (ABTE), Université de Caen Normandie (UNICAEN), Normandie Université (NU)-Normandie Université (NU)-Université de Rouen Normandie (UNIROUEN)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2018
• Subjects: cancer; chromatography; betulin; betulinic acid; inotodiol; quantification; traditional medicine; Inonotus obliquus; cytotoxicity; [CHIM.THER]Chemical Sciences/Medicinal Chemistry; [SDV.CAN]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Cancer; [SDV.MP.MYC]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Microbiology and Parasitology/Mycology; Canada; khanty
• Online Access: https://normandie-univ.hal.science/hal-02296898; https://normandie-univ.hal.science/hal-02296898/document; https://normandie-univ.hal.science/hal-02296898/file/articleChaga_paru.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1177/1534735418757912

International audience Background: Inonotus obliquus, also known as Chaga, is a parasitic fungus growing on birches and used in traditional medicine (especially by Khanty people) to treat various health problems. In this study, we aimed to quantify the 3 metabolites frequently cited in literature, that is, betulin, betulinic acid, and inotodiol in the Chaga recently discovered in forests located in Normandy (France), and to compare their concentrations with Ukrainian and Canadian Chaga. This study also explores the cytotoxicity of the French Chaga against cancer-derived cells and transformed cells.Methods: A quantification method by HPLC-MS-MS (high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry) of betulin, betulinic acid, and inotodiol was developed to study the French Chaga and compare the concentration of these metabolites with extracts provided from Chaga growing in Canada and Ukraine. This method was also used to identify and quantify those 3 compounds in other traditional preparations of Chaga (aqueous extract, infusion, and decoction). Among these preparations, the aqueous extract that contains betulin, betulinic acid, and inotodiol was chosen to evaluate and compare its cytotoxic activity toward human lung adenocarcinoma cells (A549 line) and human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B line).Results: French Chaga contains betulin and betulinic acid at higher levels than in other Chaga, whereas the concentration of inotodiol is greater in the Canadian Chaga. Moreover, the results highlighted a cytotoxic activity of the Chaga’s aqueous extract after 48 and 72 hours of exposure with a higher effect on cancer-derived cells A549 than on normal transformed cells BEAS-2B (P = 0.025 after 48 hours of exposure and P = 0.004 after 72 hours of exposure).