Temozolomide (TMZ) is an alkylating agent commonly used as a first‑line treatment for high‑grade glioblastoma. However, TMZ has short half‑life and frequently induces tumor resistance, which can limit its therapeutic efficiency. In the present study, it was hypothesized that combined treatment with TMZ and acteoside has synergistic effects in glioblastoma therapy. Using cell viability and wound‑healing assays, it was determined that this treatment regimen reduced cell viability and migration to a greater extent than either TMZ or acteoside alone. Following previous reports that TMZ affected autophagy in glioma cells, the present study examined the effects of TMZ + acteoside combination treatment on apoptosis and autophagy. The TMZ + acteoside combination treatment increased the cleavage of caspase‑3 and levels of B‑cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl‑2)‑associated X protein and phosphorylated p53, and decreased the level of Bcl‑2. The combination treatment increased microtubule‑associated protein 1 light chain 3 and apoptosis‑related gene expression. It was also determined that TMZ + acteoside induced apoptosis and autophagy through the mitogen‑activated protein kinase signaling pathway. These findings suggest that acteoside has beneficial effects on TMZ‑based glioblastoma therapy.