Investigation of the Effects of Momordica charantia Extract on Cell Survival and Migration in U87G Glioblastoma Cell Line ^†

Abstract

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a type of cancer which has the highest mortality rate among brain cancers (1–2). Momordica charantia, known as bitter melon, is a plant its pharmacological activities and nutritional properties. Due to contains bioactive compounds, M. charantia is used for cancer treatments, inflammation-related diseases and diabetes (3–4). In this study, it was aimed to investigate the effects of M. charantia extract on cell viability, cytotoxicity and migration capacity in U87G cell line. U87G was cultured in DMEM-high glucose containing FBS 10% (v/v) and penisillin-streptomicin 1% (v/v). Cells were incubated at 37 °C in a humidified 5% CO₂ incubator. The cytotoxic effect of M. charantia extract was determined by MTT analysis, cell viability by survival analysis and migration by wound-healing analysis. The results were evaluated by using ANOVA and GraphPad Prism7.0 program (GraphPad Software, La Jolla, CA, USA) in three replicates. IC₅₀ value of M. charantia extract was found 750 μg/mL which is statistically significant (* p < 0.05). The extract had an increasing lethal effect at the 16.6% (24 h), 42.6% (48 h), 79.3% (72 h) and 91.6% (96 h). According to the wound-healing analysis, the wound closed at 24 h in the control group and the wound gradually increased depending on time in the extract treated group. According to the results, M. charantia extract has a cytotoxic and a significant anti-proliferative effect on U87G. It might be used as therapeutic agent against to GBM. However, in order to understand the effect of M. charantia in living organisms, in vivo experiments must be determined.