Sesquiterpene lactones (SLs) are a typical group of secondary metabolites in asteraceae family and well-known for their biologically potential in treatment of various diseases such as cancer and inflammation. Glioblastoma (GBM) is a most common brain malignancy in adults with poor prognosis. Finding phytochemicals with potential targeting mitochondria has been suggested as an important approach for many malignancies. In this study, we purified three guaianolide-type SLs, including 8-deacyloxy-8α-(methylacryloxy)-subluteolide (A), subluteolide (B) and janerin (C) from Jurinea gabrieliae Bornm by chromatography methods. Then, mitochondrial toxicity parameters were evaluated. All three SLs selectively inhibited SDH activity in mitochondria from U87 cells but not mitochondria from normal rat brain. In addition these SLs increased ROS formation and cytochrome c release and MMP collapse only in mitochondria from U87 cells but not normal rat neurons. Our results suggest that all three SLs may act as potential agents for future development in anti-glioma therapy.
Keywords: Jurinea gabrieliae bornm; Sesquiterepene lactone; glioblastoma; mitochondria.