Multiflorane suppresses the proliferation, migration and invasion of human glioblastoma by targeting MAPK signalling pathway.

Purpose: Glioblastoma is one common malignant tumors of central nervous system and its treatment is limited by the unavailability of chemotherapeutic agents. This study was therefore undertaken to evaluate the anticancer effects of Multiflorane molecule against the U87 human glioblastoma cells and normal human astrocytes.

Methods: The CCK8 assay was used to determine cell proliferation. Acridine orange (AO)/Ethidium bromide (EB) staining assays were used to detect apoptosis. Transwell assays were used to detect the cell migration and invasion. Western blotting was used to determine protein expression.

Results: The results showed Multiflorane inhibited the proliferation of the human U87 cells with little effects on the normal cells. Investigation of the underlying mechanisms showed that Multiflorane induced apoptosis in U87 cells. Multiflorane-induced apoptosis was linked with upregulation of cleaved caspase-3, 8 and 9, as well as cleaved PARP. The Bax protein levels were increased and of Bcl-2 were decreased. Flow cytometric analysis showed that Multiflorane induced G2/M arrest of the U87 glioblastoma cells. Transwell assays showed that the molecule suppressed the migration and invasion of the U87 glioblastoma cells. Additionally, Multiflorane also blocked the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK1 dose-dependently.

Conclusion: Taken together, Multiflorane may prove beneficial in the treatment of glioblastoma.