Abstract 1923: Modulation of apoptosis in glioblastoma U87-MG cancer cells by aqueous extract ofBryophyllum pinnatum

Bryophyllum pinnatum (BP) has been used in anthroposophic medicine to treat “hyperactivity diseases” such as tocolytic symptom and overactive bladder syndrome since the beginning of 20th century with no side effect. Its major secondary metabolites include bufadienolides, flavonoids, triterpenes, and steroids. BP has been widely used in tropical regions as traditional medicine. It is reported to have antioxidant, immunomodulatory, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, wound healing, cytotoxic, and antitumor promoting activities. Glioblastoma is an aggressive and lethal tumor of the brain with few treatment options. In this study, the effects of aqueous extracts of BP on the induction and modulation of apoptosis in glioblastoma U87-MG cells were assessed using the green/red/blue fluorescent Apoptosis/Necrosis Detection Kit and the Human Apoptosis Antibody Array - Membrane (43 Targets) test by the Abcam cooperation. Our data revealed that 3-hours of 1 mg/mL and 2 mg/mL BP treatment induced statistically similar amounts of apoptosis observed as green apoptotic cells and red necrotic cells in U87-MG cells respectively (apoptotic cells = 86.0 ± 6%, necrotic cells = 14.0 ± 6.0% ; apoptotic cells = 85.0 ± 4.0% , necrotic cells = 14.5 ± 3.5%). The percent of apoptosis was not significantly different as compared to that of the positive control induced by 1µMol Staurosporine (94.5 ± 0.5%, 5.5 ± 0.5%); while significantly different from the negative control which had none apoptotic cells. Slightly less induction of apoptosis was obtained from 6-hours of 1 mg/mL and 2 mg/mL BP treatment with more necrotic cells (81.5 ± 2.5%, 18.5 ± 2.5%; 78.0 ± 3.0%, 21.5 ± 2.5% respectively). Modulation of various apoptosis markers such as up-regulation of Bax, p53, Caspase 3; and down-regulation of Bcl-2 and Bcl-w was also observed. These results suggest that BP contains phytochemicals which induce apoptosis in glioblastoma U87-MG cells by modulating these apoptotic pathway markers. Further study of the specific modulation effects of BP on apoptosis is warranted to reveal its potential chemopreventive and therapeutic properties against glioblastoma and other cancers. Citation Format: Kristin Ferrer, Joshua Li, Camille Kordas, Jasmine Cha, Sung Been Han, Joon Seo, Nathaly Manrique, Min Seo Kang, Yi Shan Jin, Si Won Choi, Ben Hiramoto, Denise Smith, Brian Yuen Wong. Modulation of apoptosis in glioblastoma U87-MG cancer cells by aqueous extract of Bryophyllum pinnatum [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 1923.