Apoptotic Effects of γ-Mangostin from the Fruit Hull of Garcinia mangostana on Human Malignant Glioma Cells

Abstract

Gliomas are a common type of primary brain tumor with glioblastoma multiforme accounting for the majority of human brain tumors. In this paper, high grade human malignant glioblastomas (MGs) including U87 MG and GBM 8401 were used to evaluate the antitumor effects of γ-mangostin, a xanthone derivative isolated and purified from the hull of the tropical fruit Garcinia mangostana. The γ-mangostin showed potent antiproliferative activity toward MGs in dose- and time-dependent manners. In addition, flow cytometric analysis of cell morphology in the apoptotic cells revealed an increase in hypodiploid cells in γ-mangostin treated U87 MG and GBM 8401 cells, while significant enhancement of intracellular peroxide production was detected in the same γ-mangostin treated cells by DCHDA assay and DiOC6(3) stain. γ-Mangostin induced apoptosis, which in turn mediates cytotoxicity in human MG cells was prevented by the addition of catalase. Naturally derived medicines and herbal therapies are drawing increasing attention in regard to the treatment of many health issues, and this includes the testing of new phytochemicals or nutrients for brain tumor patients. This has led to γ-mangostin being identified as a potential leading compound for the development of an anti-brain tumor agent.

α-Mangostin: Anti-Inflammatory Activity and Metabolism by Human Cells

“…The report that addition of catalase to medium inhibited γ-mangostin-mediated apoptosis in human malignant glioma cells supports the likelihood that spontaneous degradation of xanthones in medium can induce alterations in cellular activities. 46 Thus, our first goal was to stabilize α-MG in cell culture in order to test its in vitro anti-inflammatory activity and cellular metabolism. Previous investigators have used Tween 40 to solubilize and stabilize β-carotene 47 and fetal bovine serum for delivery of lycopene 48 to cultured cells.…”

Xanthones from Mangosteen Extracts as Natural Chemopreventive Agents: Potential Anticancer Drugs

“…Some constituents from xanthones may serve as a novel powerful anti-tumor agent and free radical scavenger after further detailed investigation. Moreover, the antitumor effect of γ-mangostin in high grade human malignant glioblastomas cells (U87 MG and GBM 8401) was associated with significant enhancement of intracellular peroxide production was detected by DCHDA assay [71]. The cytotoxic effect of α-mangostin on human colon cancer DLD-1 cells was found to be caused by apoptosis, but there is either activation of caspases or changes in Bax, Bcl-2 protein and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) following α-mangostin treatment.…”

Demethoxycurcumin Retards Cell Growth and Induces Apoptosis in Human Brain Malignant Glioma GBM 8401 Cells

“…Human brain glioblastoma multiforms [24, 25] or malignant glioma [26] GBM 8401 cells were isolated and established from a Chinese female patient with brain glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) [27]. These are tumorigenic in athymic nude mice [28].…”