Enhanced induction of mitochondrial damage and apoptosis in human leukemia HL-60 cells by the Ganoderma lucidum and Duchesnea chrysantha extracts.

Combined treatment with the medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum and the herb Duchesnea chrysantha extracts (GDE) causes a synergistic induction of mitochondrial damage and apoptosis in HL-60 cells. GDE treatment is selectively toxic to HL-60 leukemia cells whereas no cytotoxic effect is observed in normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells. GDE-induced apoptosis is associated with Bcl-2 down-regulation, Bax translocation, mitochondrial cytochrome c release and caspase-3 activation, suggesting that apoptosis by this combination occurs through the mitochondria-dependent pathway. The present findings suggest that this combination merits further investigation as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of cancer.