Capsaicin-induced apoptosis in the human glioblastoma U87MG cells via p-38 MAPK and Bcl-2/Bax signaling pathway

Long chain capsaicin analogues synthetized by CALB-CLEAs show cytotoxicity on glioblastoma cell lines

Glioblastoma is one of the most lethal tumors, displaying striking cellular heterogeneity and drug resistance. The prognosis of patients suffering from glioblastoma after 5 years is only 5%. In the present work, capsaicin analogues bearing modifications on the acyl chain with long-chain fatty acids showed promising anti-tumoral activity by its cytotoxicity on U-87 and U-138 glioblastoma multiforme cells. The capsaicin analogues were enzymatically synthetized with cross-linked enzyme aggregates of lipase B from Candida antarctica (CALB). The catalytic performance of recombinant CALB-CLEAs was compared to their immobilized form on a hydrophobic support. After 72 h of reaction, the synthesis of capsaicin analogues from linoleic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, and punicic acid achieved a maximum conversion of 69.7, 8.3 and 30.3% with CALB-CLEAs, respectively. Similar values were obtained with commercial CALB, with conversion yields of 58.3, 24.2 and 22% for capsaicin analogues from linoleic acid, DHA and punicic acid, respectively. Olvanil and dohevanil had a significant cytotoxic effect on both U-87 and U-138 glioblastoma cells. Irrespective of the immobilization form, CALB is an efficient biocatalyst for the synthesis of anti-tumoral capsaicin derivatives. KEY POINTS: • This is the first report concerning the enzymatic synthesis of capsaicin analogues from docosahexaenoic acid and punicic acid with CALB-CLEAs. • The viability U-87 and U-138 glioblastoma cells was significantly affected after incubation with olvanil and dohevanil. • Capsaicin analogues from fatty acids obtained by CALB-CLEAs are promising candidates for therapeutic use as cytotoxic agents in glioblastoma cancer cells.

Temozolomide-Mediated Apoptotic Death Is Improved by Thymoquinone in U87MG Cell Line

Apoptosis induction of cancer cells can be an appropriate strategy by which chemotherapeutic agents kill tumor cells. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of temozolomide and thymoquinone combination on apoptotic pathway of human glioblastoma multiforme cell line (U87MG). U87MG cells were cultured, treated with temozolomide and thymoquinone, and cell proliferation was measured. Apoptosis cell death and its possible mechanism were investigated by various methods. Combination of temozolomide and thymoquinone had a synergistic effect on cells viability. Thymoquinone intensified the temozolomide-induced apoptosis. Combination of temozolomide and thymoquinone can be a good strategy for treatment of glioblastoma.

Pre-clinical risk assessment and therapeutic potential of antitumor lipopeptide ‘Iturin A’ in an in vivo and in vitro model

Microbial lipopeptide “Iturin A” is a versatile bio-active molecule with potent antitumor action. Pre-clinical study of this lipopeptide showed very minimum toxicity in rodent model.