Background: Lycopene, gingerol, and silymarin have a potential anticancer activity in many types of neoplasms. Healthy lifestyle and proper diet are associated with a reduced risk of cancer and other diseases. Increasingly, clinical research focuses on the mechanisms of action of natural compounds and their impact on the development of cancer. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of lycopene, gingerol, and silymarin on apoptosis, mitochondrial potential and caspase-3/7 activity in the U118-MG cell line.
Methods: Human glioblastoma cells were incubated with lycopene, [6]-gingerol, and silymarin for 24 and 48 h. Apoptosis was monitored using the Annexin V labelling, caspase-3/7 activity, and early hallmark of apoptosis were determined with mitochondrial membrane potential changes.
Results: Our data showed a significant decrease in the viability glioblastoma cells U118-MG after 48 h treatment with lycopene, [6]-gingerol, and silymarin.
Conclusions: Our data could confirm the stimulative effects of used compounds on apoptosis and changes in mitochondrial potential in a dose-dependent manner.
Keywords: Annexin V; apoptosis; caspase-3/7; glioblastoma multiforme; mitochondrial membrane potential changes.