Enhanced induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis via the mitochondrial membrane potential disruption in human U87 malignant glioma cells by aloe emodin

Abstract

Aloe emodin, one of the active compounds found in Aloe vera leaves, plays an important role in the regulation of cell growth and death. It has been reported to promote the anti-cancer effects in various cancer cells by inducing apoptosis. However, the mechanism of inducing apoptosis by this agent is poorly understood in glioma cells. This research is to investigate the apoptosis and cell cycle arrest inducing by aloe emodin on U87 human malignant glioma cells. Aloe emodin showed a time- and dose-dependent inhibition of U87 cells proliferation and decreased the percentage of viable U87 cells via the induction of apoptosis. Characteristic morphological changes, such as the formation of apoptotic bodies, were observed with confocal microscope by Annexin V-FITC/PI staining, supporting our viability study and flow cytometry analysis results. Our data also demonstrated that aloe emodin arrested the cell cycle in the S phase and promoted the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential in U87 cells that indicated the early event of the mitochondria-induced apoptotic pathway.

Huaier aqueous extract induces apoptosis of human fibrosarcoma HT1080 cells through the mitochondrial pathway

“…A decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential is a key event involved in the initiation of apoptosis, and one that is known to activate the apoptotic pathway (16–18). In the mitochondrial membrane potential transition assay, red fluorescence indicates a normal mitochondrial membrane potential, while an abnormal mitochondrial membrane potential exhibits green fluorescence.…”

A map describing the association between effective components of traditional Chinese medicine and signaling pathways in cancer cells in vitro and in vivo

“…It induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis via the mitochondria dependent signaling pathway in human U87 malignant glioma cells (48). Another study proved that aloe emodin induces invasive inhibition of NPC-TW 039 and NPC-TW 076 human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell lines by decreasing expression levels of MMP-2 through the p38 MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway (49).…”

Estonian folk traditional experiences on natural anticancer remedies: From past to the future

“…Aloin, an anthraquinone glycoside derived from aloe leaves, has shown to inhibit human cervical, breast, and ovarian cancer cells as well as leukemia cells, exerting also antiangiogenic properties (Harlev et al, 2012;Niciforovic et al, 2007;Pan et al, 2013). Aloe emodin might represent a suitable antitumor drug candidate for the treatment of various human cancers, such as colon, gastric, bladder, lung, tongue, nasopharyngeal, uterine, and liver carcinoma, neuroectodermal tumor, leukemia, Ewing's sarcoma, neuroblastoma, and glioma (Acevedo-Duncan et al, 2004;Chen et al, 2007b;Harlev et al, 2012;Ismail et al, 2013;Pecere et al, 2000). However, only limited data are available on the safety of Aloe vera supplements leaving this issue controversial and uncertain.…”