Ergosterol Peroxide from the Egyptian Red Lingzhi or Reishi Mushroom, Ganoderma resinaceum (Agaricomycetes), Showed Preferred Inhibition of MCF-7 over MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Cell Lines.

Ergosterol peroxide and ganoderic acid AMI were isolated for the first time from the mycelium of the Egyptian Ganoderma resinaceum mushroom. The structure of these two metabolites was established by detailed analysis of 1D and 2D NMR. The isolated compounds were tested for their antitumor in vitro activities in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines. Ergosterol peroxide showed preferred inhibition of MCF-7 (ER +ve) cell lines relative to MDA-MB-231 (ER -ve) cell lines with an IC50 of 1.18 µM and 12.82 µM respectively. Our data suggest that ergosterol peroxide targets estrogen receptors.