Biomolecules & Therapeutics

The Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology (한국응용약물학회)
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An Endolichenic Fungi-Derived Fatty Acid, cis-10-Nonadecenoic acid, Suppresses Colorectal Cancer Stemness

  • Mucahit Varli (College of Pharmacy, Sunchon National University) ;
  • Eun-Young Lee (Department of Chemistry and Nanoscience, Ewha Womans University) ;
  • So-Yeon Park (College of Pharmacy, Sunchon National University) ;
  • Yi Yang (College of Pharmacy, Sunchon National University) ;
  • Prima F. Hillman (Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Andalas, Kampus Limau Manis) ;
  • Rui Zhou (College of Pharmacy, Sunchon National University) ;
  • Jae-Seoun Hur (Korean Lichen Res. Institute, Sunchon National University) ;
  • Sang-Jip Nam (Department of Chemistry and Nanoscience, Ewha Womans University) ;
  • Hangun Kim (College of Pharmacy, Sunchon National University)
  • Received : 2025.03.27
  • Accepted : 2025.06.26
  • Published : 2025.09.01
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Abstract

Endolichenic fungi (ELF), symbionts of lichens, have been reported to produce diverse bioactive secondary metabolites with promising pharmaceutical potential. In this study, we isolated and identified an ELF, EL001668 (KACC 83020BP), from Cetraria laevigata Rass., and assessed its crude extract and bioactive compounds against colorectal cancer (CRC) stem cell activity. cis-10-nonadecenoic acid (c-NDA), isolated through bioactivity-guided fractionation exerted substantial inhibitory effects on CRC stemness, such as the suppression of spheroid formation and the downregulation of the key stem cell markers ALDH1, CD44, and CD133. Comparative analysis with the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, with well-established properties, showed that cNDA exerted comparable or superior inhibitory effects against the markers and phenotypic traits of stemness. Besides, the crude extract of EL001668 exhibited greater suppression of certain markers in comparison to the individual compounds. These findings suggest that c-NDA, in conjunction with ELF-derived compounds, holds potential as a novel therapeutic candidate targeting CRC stem cells. Taken together, the current study demonstrated that c-NDA, similar to EPA and DHA, may possess adjunct or complementary effects in cancer treatment and other diseases.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This research was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korean government (MSIT; No. NRF-2022R1A2C1011848, RS-2024-00413760), and the Korea Basic Science Institute (National Research Facilities and Equipment Center) grant funded by the Ministry of Education (No. 2020R1A6C101B194).

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