Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme is a fatal brain tumor with a poor survival of 14.6 months. Radiation therapy in combination with temozolomide is the widely used treatment for this aggressive cancer. In recent decades, herbal medicines such as alpha-lipoic acid and auraptene have attracted worldwide attention as combination therapy alternatives due to their potential antitumor effects in various types of cancers and animal models. However, there is insufficient information about the anticancer effects of this combination on glioblastoma multiforme. Therefore, the cytotoxic effects of the α-lipoic acid/auraptene combination on glioblastoma cell proliferation and apoptosis were investigated. The anti-proliferative effects of the α-lipoic acid/auraptene combination on U87 cells was examined via MTT colorimetric assay. Bax and Bcl-2 transcript expression levels were assessed by real-time quantitative PCR. The intracellular level of reactive oxygen species was examined. Finally, the cell cycle distribution and apoptosis of U87 cells after treatment with α-lipoic acid/auraptene were investigated via flow cytometry. Our results showed that this combination suppressed U87 cell viability dose-dependently. The combinations tested induced apoptosis, reflected in decreased Bcl-2 and increased Bax expression at the mRNA level. Therapy with this combination also enhanced the generation of ROS, effectively causing G2/M cell cycle arrest in U87 cells.
Graphical Abstract
Similar content being viewed by others
Data Availability
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
References
Afshari AR, Jalili-Nik M, Soukhtanloo M, Ghorbani A, Sadeghnia HR, Mollazadeh H, Karimi Roshan M, Rahmani F, Sabri H, Vahedi MM, Mousavi SH (2019) Auraptene-induced cytotoxicity mechanisms in human malignant glioblastoma (U87) cells: role of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Excli J 18:576–590. https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2019-1136
Akbari M, Ostadmohammadi V, Tabrizi R, Mobini M, Lankarani KB, Moosazadeh M, Heydari ST, Chamani M, Kolahdooz F, Asemi Z (2018) The effects of alpha-lipoic acid supplementation on inflammatory markers among patients with metabolic syndrome and related disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Nutr Metab 15:39. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12986-018-0274-y
Attia M, Essa EA, Zaki RM, Elkordy AA (2020) An overview of the antioxidant effects of ascorbic acid and alpha lipoic acid (in liposomal forms) as adjuvant in cancer treatment. Antioxidants 9:359. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox9050359
Burlacu A (2003) Regulation of apoptosis by Bcl-2 family proteins. J Cell Mol Med 7:249–257. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1582-4934.2003.tb00225.x
Choi HS, Kim JH, Jang SJ, Yun JW, Kang KM, Jeong H, Ha IB, Jeong BK (2021) Synergistic tumoricidal effects of alpha-lipoic acid and radiotherapy on human breast cancer cells via HMGB1. Cancer Res Treat 53:685–694. https://doi.org/10.4143/crt.2020.1015
Chou TC (2011) The mass-action law based algorithm for cost-effective approach for cancer drug discovery and development. Am J Cancer Res 1:925–954
Conlon GA, Murray GI (2019) Recent advances in understanding the roles of matrix metalloproteinases in tumour invasion and metastasis. J Pathol 247:629–640. https://doi.org/10.1002/path.5225
Costantino M, Guaraldi C, Costantino D, De Grazia S, Unfer V (2014) Peripheral neuropathy in obstetrics: efficacy and safety of α-lipoic acid supplementation. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 18:2766–2771. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.1.1948.8485
Cremer DR, Rabeler R, Roberts A, Lynch B (2006) Safety evaluation of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA). Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 46:29–41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yrtph.2006.06.004
Curini M, Cravotto G, Epifano F, Giannone G (2006) Chemistry and biological activity of natural and synthetic prenyloxycoumarins. Curr Med Chem 13:199–222. https://doi.org/10.2174/092986706775197890
Dozio E, Ruscica M, Passafaro L, Dogliotti G, Steffani L, Marthyn P, Pagani A, Demartini G, Esposti D, Fraschini F, Magni P (2010) The natural antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid induces p27(Kip1)-dependent cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Eur J Pharmacol 641:29–34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2010.05.009
Ebrahimi S, Mostafavi-Pour Z, Khazaei M, Nazari SE, Jamshidi ST, Soukhtanloo M (2023a) Suppression of metastasis by Citrus auraptene in a mouse model of colorectal cancer. Rev Bras Farmacogn 33:182–190. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43450-022-00351-a
Ebrahimi S, Soukhtanloo M, Mostafavi-Pour Z (2023b) Anti-tumor effects of auraptene through induction of apoptosis and oxidative stress in a mouse model of colorectal cancer. Tissue Cell 81:102004. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tice.2022.102004-b
Genovese S, Epifano F (2011) Auraptene: a natural biologically active compound with multiple targets. Curr Drug Targets 12:381–386. https://doi.org/10.2174/138945011794815248
Goldar S, Khaniani MS, Derakhshan SM, Baradaran B (2015) Molecular mechanisms of apoptosis and roles in cancer development and treatment. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 16:2129–2144. https://doi.org/10.7314/apjcp.2015.16.6.2129
Gomes MB, Negrato CA (2014) Alpha-lipoic acid as a pleiotropic compound with potential therapeutic use in diabetes and other chronic diseases. Diabetol Metab Syndr 6:80. https://doi.org/10.1186/1758-5996-6-80
Gorąca A, Huk-Kolega H, Piechota A, Kleniewska P, Ciejka E, Skibska B (2011) Lipoic acid - biological activity and therapeutic potential. Pharmacol Rep 63:849–858. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1734-1140(11)70600-4
Halbersztadt A, Haloń A, Pajak J, Robaczyński J, Rabczynski J, St Gabryś M (2006) The role of matrix metalloproteinases in tumor invasion and metastasis. Ginekol Pol 77:63–71
Hsin YH, Chen CF, Huang S, Shih TS, Lai PS, Chueh PJ (2008) The apoptotic effect of nanosilver is mediated by a ROS- and JNK-dependent mechanism involving the mitochondrial pathway in NIH3T3 cells. Toxicol Lett 179:130–139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxlet.2008.04.015
Jeon MJ, Kim WG, Lim S, Choi HJ, Sim S, Kim TY, Shong YK, Kim WB (2016) Alpha lipoic acid inhibits proliferation and epithelial mesenchymal transition of thyroid cancer cells. Mol Cell Endocrinol 419:113–123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mce.2015.10.005
Kim JI, Cho SR, Lee CM, Park ES, Kim KN, Kim HC, Lee HY (2012) Induction of ER stress-mediated apoptosis by α-lipoic acid in A549 cell lines. Korean J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 45:1–10. https://doi.org/10.5090/kjtcs.2012.45.1.1
Krishnan P, Yan KJ, Windler D, Tubbs J, Grand R, Li BD, Aldaz CM, McLarty J, Kleiner-Hancock HE (2009) Citrus auraptene suppresses cyclin D1 and significantly delays N-methyl nitrosourea induced mammary carcinogenesis in female Sprague-Dawley rats. BMC Cancer 9:25. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2407-9-259
Kuban-Jankowska A, Gorska-Ponikowska M, Wozniak M (2017) Lipoic acid decreases the viability of breast cancer cells and activity of PTP1B and SHP2. Anticancer Res 37:2893–2898. https://doi.org/10.21873/anticanres.11642
Lee JC, Shin EA, Kim B, Kim BI, Chitsazian-Yazdi M, Iranshahi M, Kim SH (2017) Auraptene induces apoptosis via myeloid cell leukemia 1-mediated activation of caspases in PC3 and DU145 prostate cancer cells. Phytother Res 31:891–898. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.5810
Li BJ, Hao XY, Ren GH, Gong Y (2015) Effect of lipoic acid combined with paclitaxel on breast cancer cells. Genet Mol Res 14:17934–17940. https://doi.org/10.4238/2015.December.22.18
Liu D, Dai X, Ye L, Wang H, Qian H, Cheng H, Wang X (2023) Nanotechnology meets glioblastoma multiforme: emerging therapeutic strategies. Wiley Interdiscip Rev Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 15:e1838. https://doi.org/10.1002/wnan.1838
Livak KJ, Schmittgen TD (2001) Analysis of relative gene expression data using real-time quantitative PCR and the 2 −ΔΔCT Method. Methods 25:402–408. https://doi.org/10.1006/meth.2001.1262
McConnell DD, McGreevy JW, Williams MN, Litofsky NS (2018) Do anti-oxidants vitamin D(3), melatonin, and alpha-lipoic acid have synergistic effects with temozolomide on cultured glioblastoma cells? Medicines 5:58. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicines5020058
Michikoshi H, Nakamura T, Sakai K, Suzuki Y, Adachi E, Matsugo S, Matsumoto K (2013) α-Lipoic acid-induced inhibition of proliferation and met phosphorylation in human non-small cell lung cancer cells. Cancer Lett 335:472–478. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.canlet.2013.03.008
Moon JY, Kim H, Cho SK (2015) Auraptene, a major compound of supercritical fluid extract of phalsak (Citrus Hassaku Hort ex Tanaka), induces apoptosis through the suppression of mTOR pathways in human gastric cancer SNU-1 cells. Evid-Based Compl Alt Med 2015:402385. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/402385
Mousavi SH, Davari AS, Iranshahi M, Sabouri-Rad S, Tayarani Najaran Z (2015) Comparative analysis of the cytotoxic effect of 7-prenyloxycoumarin compounds and herniarin on MCF-7 cell line. Avicenna J Phytomed 5:520–530. https://doi.org/10.22038/ajp.2015.4355
Moussavi M, Haddad F, Matin MM, Iranshahi M, Rassouli FB (2018) Efficacy of hyperthermia in human colon adenocarcinoma cells is improved by auraptene. Biochem Cell Biol 96:32–37. https://doi.org/10.1139/bcb-2017-0146
Na MH, Seo EY, Kim WK (2009) Effects of alpha-lipoic acid on cell proliferation and apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 human breast cells. Nutr Res Pract 3:265–271. https://doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2009.3.4.265
Najafi N, Mehri S, Ghasemzadeh Rahbardar M, Hosseinzadeh H (2022) Effects of alpha lipoic acid on metabolic syndrome: a comprehensive review. Phytother Res 36:2300–2323. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.7406
Peng P, Zhang X, Qi T, Cheng H, Kong Q, Liu L, Cao X, Ding Z (2020) Alpha-lipoic acid inhibits lung cancer growth via mTOR-mediated autophagy inhibition. FEBS Open Bio 10:607–618. https://doi.org/10.1002/2211-5463.12820
Perillo B, Di Donato M, Pezone A, Di Zazzo E, Giovannelli P, Galasso G, Castoria G, Migliaccio A (2020) ROS in cancer therapy: the bright side of the moon. Exp Mol Med 52:192–203. https://doi.org/10.1038/s12276-020-0384-2
Pouratian N, Schiff D (2010) Management of low-grade glioma. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 10:224–231. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-010-0105-7
Sakata K, Hara A, Hirose Y, Yamada Y, Kuno T, Katayama M, Yoshida K, Zheng Q, Murakami A, Ohigashi H, Ikemoto K, Koshimizu K, Tanaka T, Mori H (2004) Dietary supplementation of the citrus antioxidant auraptene inhibits N, N-diethylnitrosamine-induced rat hepatocarcinogenesis. Oncology 66:244–252. https://doi.org/10.1159/000078001
Tagde P, Tagde P, Tagde S, Bhattacharya T, Garg V, Akter R, Rahman MH, Najda A, Albadrani GM, Sayed AA, Akhtar MF, Saleem A, Altyar AE, Kaushik D, Abdel-Daim MM (2021) Natural bioactive molecules: An alternative approach to the treatment and control of glioblastoma multiforme. Biomed Pharmacother 141:111928. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2021.111928
Tripathi AK, Ray AK, Mishra SK, Bishen SM, Mishra H, Khurana A (2023) Molecular and therapeutic insights of alpha-lipoic acid as a potential molecule for disease prevention. Rev Bras Farmacogn 33:272–287. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43450-023-00370-1
Uguz AC, Cig B, Espino J, Bejarano I, Naziroglu M, Rodríguez AB, Pariente JA (2012) Melatonin potentiates chemotherapy-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis in rat pancreatic tumor cells. J Pineal Res 53:91–98. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-079X.2012.00974.x
Vakili T, Iranshahi M, Arab H, Riahi B, Roshan NM, Karimi G (2017) Safety evaluation of auraptene in rats in acute and subacute toxicity studies. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 91:159–164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yrtph.2017.10.025
Xie Q, Mittal S, Berens ME (2014) Targeting adaptive glioblastoma: an overview of proliferation and invasion. Neuro Oncol 16:1575–1584. https://doi.org/10.1093/neuonc/nou147
Yang Y, Fang E, Luo J, Wu H, Jiang Y, Liu Y, Tong S, Wang Z, Zhou R, Tong Q (2019) The antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid inhibits proliferation and invasion of human gastric cancer cells via suppression of STAT3-mediated MUC4 gene expression. Oxid Med Cell Longev 2019:3643715. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/3643715
Ye J, Zhang R, Wu F, Zhai L, Wang K, Xiao M, Xie T, Sui X (2018) Non-apoptotic cell death in malignant tumor cells and natural compounds. Cancer Lett 420:210–227. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.canlet.2018.01.061
Yoo TH, Lee JH, Chun HS, Chi SG (2013) α-Lipoic acid prevents p53 degradation in colon cancer cells by blocking NF-κB induction of RPS6KA4. Anticancer Drugs 24:555–565. https://doi.org/10.1097/CAD.0b013e32836181eb
Yuan H, Ma Q, Ye L, Piao G (2016) The traditional medicine and modern medicine from natural products. Molecules 21:559. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules21050559
Funding
This study is based on the MSc. dissertation of Azam Izadi (Grant No. 400000117) and was financially supported by the Kerman University of Medical Sciences.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
MS and AI contributed to the study's conception and design. AI carried out all the experiments. AI, AS, MJN, FM, and AA contributed to the interpretation of the results. The manuscript was drafted by AI, and revisions were made by AI and MS for publication. The corresponding author declares that all the listed authors meet the authorship criteria.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Ethics Approval
All experiments were performed in accordance with the guidelines of the Ethics Committee of Kerman University of Medical Sciences (IR.KMU.AH.REC.1400.053).
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Supplementary Information
ESM 1
(PDF 316 kb)
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Izadi, A., Sadeghi, A., Jalili-Nik, M. et al. Combination of Alpha-Lipoic Acid and Auraptene Induces Apoptosis and Prevents Proliferation of the Human U-87 Glioblastoma Cells. Rev. Bras. Farmacogn. 33, 1177–1186 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43450-023-00440-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43450-023-00440-4