Natural Bioactive Compounds: Alternative Approach to the Treatment of Glioblastoma Multiforme

Abstract

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most frequent, primary malignant brain tumor prevalent in humans. GBM characteristically exhibits aggressive cell proliferation and rapid invasion of normal brain tissue resulting in poor patient prognosis. The current standard of care of surgical resection followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy with temozolomide is not very effective. The inefficacy of the chemotherapeutic agents may be attributed to the challenges in drug delivery to the tumor. Several epidemiological studies have demonstrated the chemopreventive role of natural, dietary compounds in the development and progression of cancer. Many of these studies have reported the potential of using natural compounds in combination with chemotherapy and radiotherapy as a novel approach for the effective treatment of cancer. In this paper, we review the role of several natural compounds individually and in combination with chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of GBM. We also assess the potential of drug delivery approaches such as the Gliadel wafers and role of nanomaterial based drug delivery systems for the effective treatment of GBM.

Crocetin Extracted from Saffron Shows Antitumor Effects in Models of Human Glioblastoma

“…Over recent years, a series of work introduced the effects of different natural compounds on GBM [22,23]. Among these natural agents, a saffron extract (SE) compound named crocetin (CCT) raised significant interest due to its capacity to impair the survival and progression of different cancer types [24,25]. Therefore, we studied the behavior of crocetin using in vitro and in vivo models of glioblastoma for the first time.…”

Natural Compounds with Potential to Modulate Cancer Therapies and Self-Reactive Immune Cells

“…Natural compounds have been investigated for their effects on numerous cancers, including gynaecological malignancies [79], glioblastoma [102], pancreatic cancer [103], breast cancer [104,105], lung cancer [106], prostate cancer [107], colorectal cancer [108,109] and melanoma/skin cancers [110][111][112]. Compounds are mainly selected for their anti-inflammatory properties although evidence has now been obtained that numerous compounds may induce direct killing of cancer cells, i.e., by apoptosis, but also because they can mediate cellular mechanisms and signalling pathways [113].…”

Prospect of natural products in glioma: A novel avenue in glioma management

“…Infiltrative nature and resistance development against chemotherapeutic agents are the major hindrances in glioma therapy (Desai & Bhushan, ). Researchers are trying to find out natural compounds with antiglioma activities.…”

“…Usually, drugs are applied at a higher concentration in glioma treatment to overcome the hindrance of BBB and to achieve adequate drug concentration in tumor tissue (Desai & Bhushan, ). But this higher drug concentration results in toxicity to organs of the body (Vengoji et al, ).…”

“…Many natural compounds have shown antiglioma activities by modulating tyrosine kinase signaling pathways (genistein), inhibiting cell cycle (neurostatin), inducing apoptosis (cannabis), or modulating inflammatory factors (retinoids), etc. (Desai & Bhushan, ).…”