PMID:
Nutr Cancer. 2019 ;71(3):491-507. Epub 2018 Oct 1. PMID: 30273051
Abstract Title:
Crocus sativus L. Causes a Non Apoptotic Calpain Dependent Death in C6 Rat Glioma Cells, Exhibiting a Synergistic Effect with Temozolomide.
Abstract:
Crocus sativus L., a dietary herb, has been used for various diseases including cancer. This is an in vitro study investigating the antineoplastic effect of the extract of the plant against C6 glioma rat cell line. The mechanism of cellular death and the synergistic effect of the extract with the alkylating agent temozolomide (TMZ) were investigated. Cellular viability was examined in various concentrations of the extract alone or in combination with TMZ. Apoptosis was determined with flow cytometry and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and autophagy by western blotting of the light chain 3 (LC3)-II. Cellular viability was reduced after exposure to the extract with half maximal inhibition concentration at 3 mg/ml. Flow cytometry and TUNEL assay suggested that the extract does not induce apoptosis. Moreover, their combination increased the ratio dead/apoptotic cells 10-fold (P