Allicin suppresses human glioblastoma cell growth by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, and by promoting autophagy

Abstract

Glioblastoma is the most aggressive cancer that occurs in the brain and spinal cord. In the present study, we investigated the effect of allicin, an organosulfur compound obtained from garlic (Allium sativum), on glioblastoma cell growth. When human glioblastoma DBTRG-05MG cells were incubated with different concentrations of allicin for 24 h, cell growth was suppressed in a dose-dependent manner. The results from image-based cytometer assays suggested that allicin caused S and G2/M phase cell cycle arrest and induced apoptosis. Autophagy detection studies showed that allicin also promoted this mechanism. Because cell migration is a key process during tumor formation, the effect of allicin on glioblastoma cell migration was also examined. After allicin treatment, the migration ability of cells decreased when compared with the control after 24 h. Taken together, the present results suggested that allicin inhibited human glioblastoma cell growth by inducing S and G2/M phase cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and autophagy. Our findings suggest that allicin suppressed glioblastoma cell growth through multiple target pathways. Therefore, allicin potentially serves as an alternative therapeutic candidate or could be synergistically used in combination with the standard drug for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme.

Plants as a Source of Anticancer Agents: From Bench to Bedside

“…In breast cancer cell lines, allicin induces cell cycle arrest through targeting the p53 pathway [ 204 ]. More and more, allicin suppresses the cell growth of human glioblastoma via inducing G2/M and S phase cell cycle arrest [ 208 ]. In cervical cancer, allicin suppresses the migration and invasion in cervical cancer cells mainly by inhibiting NRF2 [ 209 ].…”

Plant-Derived Natural Products in Cancer Research: Extraction, Mechanism of Action, and Drug Formulation

“…Moreover, allicin suppresses melanoma cell growth via increasing cyclin D1 and reducing MMP-9 mRNA expression [112]. It also inhibits human glioblastoma proliferation by stimulating S and G 2 /M phase cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and autophagy [113]. Allicin showed efficacy in reducing growth and metastasis of gastric carcinoma through upregulation of miR-383-5p and downregulation of ERBB4 [114].…”