Effects of Scilla autumnalis Extracts on U87-MG Human Glioblastoma Cells

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to measure the effects of Scilla autumnalis extracts which might act as potential plant based chemotherapeutic, on U87 glioblastoma cell line. Material and Method: Cytotoxicity assays were performed by determining the cell viability of the samples with MTT (3 – (4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide). Gene expression levels of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), Glucose transporter 3 (GLUT3), Glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4), Hexokinase 1 (HK1) and Hexokinase 2 (HK2), multidrug resistance1 (MDR1), Cytochrome P450 Family 2 Subfamily E Member 1 (CYP2E1) and Pregnane X receptor (PXR) was analyzed in glioblastoma cells using quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Results: According to the analysis, we observed a 10% increase in the expression of Glut1, however, we did not observe a difference in Glut3 expression. For Glut4, root ethanol extract decreased its expression by 13% but shoot extracts elevated the expression levels by only 5–6%. We determined the low expression levels of HK1 and HK2 in glioblastoma compared to the control group. S.autumnalis root extract led to a slight increase in MDR1 expression. We found that the expression level of CYP2E1 was 20% lower in glioblastoma cells treated with Scilla autumnalis root and shoots extracts compared to the control group. We determined downregulation in PXR expression. Conclusion: This study may contribute significantly to the understanding of the cytotoxic effect of Scilla autumnalis. This approach may allow the possibility of Scilla autumnalis plant extract as a candidate drug for the treatment of glioblastoma.