CASP3 and lung carcinoma: Correspondingly, our data strongly suggest that the sclerotia of P. cocos exert cytotoxicity against human lung cancer cells by the promotion of apoptosis mediated by the caspase-3-dependent mitochondrial pathway, and further support our notion that the isolated compounds, which are considered as the main constituents of the sclerotia of P. cocos, are responsible for the cytotoxicity.