Anticancer and antioxidant properties of Volvopluteus gloiocephalus investigating

In this thesis study, the cytotoxic and mitochondrial effects of ethanolic, methanolic, and aqueous extracts of the mushroom Volvopluteus gloiocephalus on different cancer cell lines [A549 (lung), HepG2 (liver), HT-29 (colon), MCF7 and MDA-MB-453 (breast), NIH-OVCAR-3 and SKOV-3 (ovary), U87-MG (brain)] and healthy cells [ARPE-19 (retina) and HaCaT (skin)] were evaluated. The findings showed that the biological activity of the extracts varied depending on the cell type, solvent polarity, and dose. The ethanolic extract exhibited a strong antiproliferative effect, particularly in lung, colon, ovarian, and brain cancer cells; while the methanolic extract produced more selective suppression in lung, liver, and brain cells. The aqueous extract generally presented a balanced profile, but showed a marked cytotoxic effect in colon and some ovarian cells. JC-1 analyses revealed that cell death mechanisms associated with mitochondrial dysfunction were activated in some cell lines, while in others, the cytotoxic effect occurred despite the preservation of mitochondrial integrity. The absence of significant toxicity in healthy retinal and skin cells indicated that the aqueous and methanolic fractions, in particular, exhibited a cell-friendly profile. In conclusion, it was determined that the anticancer effects of V. gloiocephalus vary depending on the type of solvent and cell origin; the ethanolic extract has a potent biological profile, the methanolic extract is selective, and the aqueous extract is safe, indicating that this species is a promising natural resource for further mechanistic and in vivo studies.