Therapeutic Potential of Salvia miltiorrhiza in Glioblastoma: Evidence from in vitro and in vivo Studies

Background: Glioblastoma (GB) is a highly aggressive and invasive brain tumor characterized by a poor prognosis. The Danshen ( Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge) crude extract (DCE) demonstrated effective anticancer effects against glioblastoma. This study investigated the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of DCE on GB and explored its potential mechanisms of action. Materials and Methods: Cell viability and migration were assessed using 3-(4, 5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2, 5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide and wound healing assays, respectively. The cell cycle and apoptosis were evaluated using flow cytometry. The in vivo effect of DCE was determined using a U87-MG GB xenograft model in BALB/c-nude mice. The gene expression profile of DCE-treated tumor tissue was assessed using RNA sequencing, with validation of key genes by using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Results: DCE treatment significantly reduced cell viability in both the U87-MG and DBTRG-05MG GB cell lines. Additionally, DCE notably induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and promoted apoptosis in both cell lines. Furthermore, DCE effectively inhibited cell migration in both GB cell lines. The in vivo results revealed that DCE significantly suppressed tumor growth in the GB xenograft mouse model. qRT-PCR analysis indicated that the anticancer activity of DCE is associated with the downregulation of CXCL2, CXCL3, CXCL8 , and PTGS2 gene expression. Conclusion: DCE effectively suppressed the progression of GB in both in vitro and in vivo models, likely through modulation of modulating pro-inflammatory signaling pathways. These findings highlight DCE as a promising candidate for therapeutic development against GB. The diagram shows two chemical structures labeled 3 and 4, both inhibiting a DNA structure. This inhibition affects a cell cycle diagram with phases G1, S, G2 and M and a cluster of cells. Below, a mouse is shown with a syringe, indicating treatment with the compounds. A graph displays tumor volume in cubic millimeters over days of treatment, comparing control, Danshen crude and TMZ. The control group shows the highest tumor growth, while Danshen crudeshows the least. Statistical significance is indicated with asterisks, with p less than 0.001.Diagram of chemical compounds affecting DNA, cell cycle and tumor growth in mice.