Combination of Alpha-Lipoic Acid and Auraptene Induces Apoptosis and Prevents Proliferation of the Human U-87 Glioblastoma Cells

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