Suillus luteus methanolic extract inhibits proliferation and increases expression of p-H2A.X in a non-small cell lung cancer cell line

Methanolic extract of Suillus luteus was previously shown to inhibit proliferation of colon cancer cells with mutant p53. The effect of the same extract was further investigated here in a wildtype (wt) p53 non-small cell lung cancer cell line. Treatment with the extract increased the levels of p-H2A.X and the number of p-H2A.X foci/cell, indicating a possible increase in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage. Nevertheless, it did not cause alterations in wt p53 levels nor in programmed cell death. The extract caused inhibition of cellular proliferation and an increase in the % of cells in the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle. In conclusion, even though there is evidence of DNA damage being caused by this extract, there is no induction of cell death in this p53 wt cell line.