Abstract
Z-ligustilide (LIG), an essential oil extract from Radix Angelica sinensis, has broad pharmaceutical applications in treating cardio-vascular diseases and ischemic brain injury. Recently, LIG has been connected to Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) because of its structural similarity to 3-n-alkyphthalide (NBP), which is specifically cytotoxic to GBM cells. Hence, we investigated LIG’s effect on GBM T98G cells. The study shows that LIG can significantly reduce T98G cells’ migration in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the attenuation of cellular mobility can be linked to the activity of the Rho GTPases (RhoA, Rac1 and Cdc42), the three critical molecular switches governing cytoskeleton remodeling; thus, regulating cell migration. LIG significantly reduces the expression of RhoA and affects in a milder manner the expression of Cdc42 and Rac1.
Highlights
Radix Angelica sinensis (RAS) has been considered a medicinal plant and applied to alleviate various disease syndromes in traditional Chinese medicine for over a thousand years
To explore whether LIG treatment affects the migration of T98G cells, LIG was diluted to different concentrations in IPA and applied to T98G cell cultures immediately after the wound-like gap was created
5 mM is the lowest dose of LIG that has significant effect on cell migration; so we chose this dosage for further study
Summary
Radix Angelica sinensis (RAS) has been considered a medicinal plant and applied to alleviate various disease syndromes in traditional Chinese medicine for over a thousand years. More than 70 compounds have been currently identified in RAS, including phthalide dimers, organic acids and their derivative esters, polyacetylenes, vitamins, amino acids, and essential oils [1]. Among the essential oils of RAS, Z-ligustilide (LIG) is one of the most active components and has been characterized for more than 40 years. LIG can inhibit the proliferation and cell cycle progression of vascular smooth muscle cells, associated to basic fibroblast growth factor stimulation, through the reduction of reactive oxygen species and/or the suppression of the MAPK pathway [2]. LIG is considered to be an effective agent to reduce vascular resistance; thereafter, increase blood flow and enhance microcirculation to prevent cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis and hypertension [4,5]
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