Inhibition of growth of U87MG human glioblastoma cells by Usnea longissima Ach.

Abstract

Herbal medicines are efficient to reduce side effects in the fight against glioblastoma, which plays a critical role within brain cancer species. The recent studies designated for testing the effects of lichens that have shown numerous anticancer activities on glioblastoma so far. In the present study, different concentrations of water extract obtained from Usnea longissima Ach. were used in order to determine cytotoxic (via 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and lactate dehydrogenase tests), antioxidant (via total antioxidant capacity test), pro-oxidant (via total oxidant status test) and genotoxic (via 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine test) effects of them on human U87MG-glioblastoma cancer cell lines. Primary mixed glial-neuronal non-cancerous cells from Sprague-Dawley rats were also utilized to measure the effects of treatments on non-cancerous cells. Based on median inhibitory concentration values, the data belonged to non-cancerous cells (2486.71 mg/l) showed distinct towering compared to U87MG (80.93 mg/L) cells. The viability of non-cancerous and U87MG cells exposed to extract is decreased in a dose dependent manner. It was also showed that low concentrations of extract notably increased total antioxidant capacity on non-cancerous cells. In addition, various phenolic compounds in extract were detected through high-performance liquid chromatography. The recent results encourage that extract will be able to have therapeutic potential against glioblastoma.

Methanol Extract of Usnea barbata Induces Cell Killing, Apoptosis, and DNA Damage against Oral Cancer Cells through Oxidative Stress

“…Lichens contain diverse species and exhibit multiple functions such as in traditional medicine, and the preparation of food, perfume, and dye [ 32 ]. Recently, the cell killing effect of lichen extracts has received attention in the treatment of several types of cancer as shown by several studies [ 11 , 12 , 13 ] except for oral cancer. In the current study, we investigated the anticancer effect and mechanism of MEUB against oral cancer cells.…”

“…For example, water extract of U. longissima Ach. exhibits growth inhibition of human glioblastoma GBM U87MG cells but it shows less damage to primary mixed glial-neuronal (PMGN) non-cancer cells [ 12 ], suggesting a preferential killing effect on human glioblastoma cells. The preferential killing ability of extracts from other Usnea species were also reported from animal model study.…”

“…Moreover, the drug-induced exogenous oxidative stress may induce preferential killing to cancer cells but show low toxicity to normal cells [ 36 ]. Therefore, the antioxidant in several Usnea species may play a role in preferential killing to several types of cancer cells [ 12 , 34 ].…”

“…Water extract of U. longissima Ach. also exhibits cell killing against human glioblastoma U87MG cells [ 12 ]. Methanol extract of U. filipendula Stirt can induce cell killing of human lung and liver cancer cells [ 13 ].…”

Molecular Mechanisms of the Anti-Cancer Effects of Isothiocyanates from Cruciferous Vegetables in Bladder Cancer

“…Furthermore, Yiqi Huayu Jiedu decoction, which comprises various Chinese herbs and natural compounds, was reported to increase the anti-cancer effects of standard chemotherapy in patients with stage III gastric cancer after radical gastrectomy and improve the quality of life of patients [10]. In addition to these reports, several reviews and in vivo and in vitro studies have demonstrated that a variety of natural products possess anti-cancer potential and can avoid the undesirable effects of standard therapies of malignancies [11][12][13][14].…”