Moringa Oleifera leaf extract exerts antiproliferative effects and induces mitochondria mediated apoptosis within rat glioblastoma (c6) cells

Background: Glioblastoma multiforme is a dreaded manifestation of brain tumors resulting in substantial mortality among affected individuals globally. Moringa oleifera (Mo) is well known from earlier times for its medicinal use in conventional medication for different ailments such as cancer. Objective: The present study aims to evaluate the antiproliferative efficacy of ethanolic Moleaf extract (Mo E t-OH) in mouse-derived glioblastoma C6 cells. Materials and Methods: MoEt-OH was prepared, and C6 cells were subjected to MoEt-OH treatment at a dosage of 100, 200, and 400 μg/ml and incubated for 24 h. Results: Postincubation, C6 cells exhibited a significant (P < 0.05) decline in their viability at 100 μg/ml, which further increased proportionally with increase in MoEt-OH concentration (P < 0.01; P < 0.001). MoEt-OH significantly enhanced the lipid peroxidation as assessed by measuring the increased levels of malondialdehyde at 100 μg/ml (P < 0.05), 200 μg/ml (P < 0.01), and 400 μg/ml (P < 0.001). MoEt-OH-mediated evaluation of glutathione levels also exhibited similar trends. Moreover, reactive oxygen species estimation revealed a substantial increase in oxidative stress posttreatment with MoEt-OH within C6 cells, even in a dose-dependent manner. MoEt-OH also instigated apoptosis with glioblastoma cells through enhanced nuclear condensation and fragmentation as qualitatively evaluated through Hoechst 33342 staining. The apoptosis within C6 cells post-MoEt-OH treatment was linked with enhanced expressional levels of caspase-9 and caspase-3 proportional to the MoEt-OH concentration. Conclusion: Thus, our preliminary study elucidated that MoEt-OH treatment results in antiproliferation within C6 cells by enhancing oxidative stress and instigating apoptosis by initiating nuclear fragmentation.