Description
Beauvericin is a cyclic hexadepsipeptide mycotoxin initially produced by species of Cordyceps. Beauvericin exhibits pro-oxidative and anticancer activities. In colon adenocarcinoma cells, beauvericin induces oxidative stress by increasing ROS levels and decreasing glutathione levels and also induces mitochondria-dependent apoptosis by decreasing the mitochondrial membrane potential. In non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells, beauvericin upregulates Bax, Bak, and p-Bad, downregulates p-Bcl-2, activates caspase 3, and increases release of cytochrome c, resulting in apoptosis and cell death. Additionally, this compound stimulates influx of Ca2+ into cells.