Mycochemical analysis, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities of Pycnoporus sanguineus (L.) Murrill, a medicinal mushroom from Gabon

A mycochemical study followed by an evaluation of anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities of Pycnoporus sanguineus, a species of lignicole mushroom exploited in traditional medicine in Gabon, was carried out on four extracts. Bioactive compounds were extracted by successive macerations with water, hydro-ethanol (50-50), ethanol solvents and sonication was used for dichloromethane-methanol (50-50) extraction. Agilent LC-MS system was used for the molecular profile of the different extracts and fractions. The fractionation of the extracts was made by flash chromatography and the purification using preparative chromatography. Structures of compounds responsible for the pharmacological activities were determinated by NMR. Cytotoxicity essay was carried out on PNT2 cells and the anticancer activities on A549 and PC3 cell lines.
Two molecules have been isolated from this fungus; namely m/z 301.04 [M-H] + corresponding to cinnabarinic acid and m/z 287.06 [M-H]+ for which the NMR data were insufficient to confirm the molecular identification. Anti-inflammatory activity of the aqueous extract was stronger (IC50 = 197.82 μg/ml) than niflumic acid (IC50 = 809.27 μg/ml) but weaker than diclofenac (IC50 = 15.28 μg/ml). However, the hydro-ethanolic and ethanolic extracts of P. sanguineus, have a weaker anti-inflammatory activity than niflumic acid and diclofenac. About cytotoxicity, the crude extracts and fractions tested have anticancer and cytotoxic activities on A549, PC3 and PNT2 lines. However, these activities are more pronounced in the healthy line PNT2 than in the cancerous lines A549 and PC3.