THE EFFECT OF ARTEMISIA EXTRACTS ON HUMAN ASTROCYTOMA CELL VIABILITY IN VITRO

Abstract

Gliomas are one of the most aggressive and prevalent primary tumors of the central nervous system originating from neuroglial cells. Although the current treatment methods such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy play a crucial role, the side effects and drug resistance limit the efficiency and further affect patients’ health. The use of herbal medicine for the prevention and treatment potential of tumor has drawing attention due to their fewer toxic side effects than conventional treatments. The Genus Artemisia L. is one of the largest genera in the Asteraceae family, widely distributed in Central Asia. Many of the Artemisia species have been used in various treatments since ancient times as folk remedies. Some of them have antitumor potential. However, it is unknown whether Artemisia terrae-albae Krasch (AT), a common species endemic to Kazakhstan, has an antitumor effect on human astrocytoma. In this study, we investigated the effect of AT on H4 astrocytoma cell line and CTX-TNA2 astrocyte cell line (control) by determining its cytotoxic effect using alamarBlue cell viability assay and quantifying cell apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels using annexin V-FITC/PI staining and MitoSOX red staining, respectively. The results of cell viability assay with alamarBlue™ reagent showed that the treatment with aqueous extract of AT (AT-W) for 48 hours exhibited a dose-dependent cytotoxic effect on both H4 and CTX TNA2, but with lower effect on CTX-TNA2 cell viability. In consistent with cell viability results, the proportion of apoptotic cells and ROS accumulation in H4 increased after treatment with AT-W for 48 hours compared with untreated group. In conclusion, our VII findings clearly demonstrated that the AT-induced decrease in cell viability and cell apoptosis follow the accumulation of ROS in H4 cells thus confirm the crucial role of oxidative stress in AT-induced apoptosis. The mechanisms underlying this process remain to be elucidated.