Biological and Molecular Evidences for the Antitumor Potential of EGb 761 in Glioma Cells In Vitro and In Vivo

Abstract

EGb 761, the standardized extract from the Ginkgo biloba leaves, has therapeutic effect on many diseases. However, its mechanisms on glioma remain to be fully established. This study aims to investigate the possible effects of EGb 761 on glioma cells, to explore its potential mechanism. The glioma cells SHG44 and U251 were used as materials, the proliferation, migration and invasion were assessed by the MTT, the scratch-wound and Transwell assays were performed respectively. Levels of insulin-like growth factor-1, Bcl-2, p53, Smad2/3, Bax, cleaved caspase-3 and p-Smad2/3 were determined by western blots. The development and progression of U251 glioma cell were measured in vivo, and the apoptosis was evaluated. The results showed that EGb 761 could inhibit the proliferation, migration, and invasion of SHG-44 and U251 cells in vitro. Meanwhile, the expression levels of IGF-1 and Bcl-2, and the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling were inhibited. In contrast, the expression levels of p53, Bax, and cleaved caspase-3 were increased significantly. In conclusion, this study suggested that EGb 761 could suppress the growth of glioma cells in vitro and in vivo, possibly by inhibiting the TGF-β signalling pathway and activating the p53 signalling pathway.