valerenic-acid and Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma multiform (GBM) continues to threaten people's lives due to the limited therapeutic strategies. As a new drug, Valerenic Acid suppresses the progression of GBM, however, the mechanism is largely unknown. Here, we found that Valerenic Acid can inhibit cell proliferation, migration and invasion of GBM cells by increasing innate immune signals such as enhancing ROS levels and activating the AMPK pathway. Inhibition of ROS by N-acetylcysteine (NAC) or attenuation of AMPK by Compound C could block Valerenic Acid-induced cell death. Additionally, the xenograft mouse model also confirmed that Valerenic Acid had anti-tumor effect. Together, our results provide compelling rational to develop Valerenic Acid as an anti-tumor agent against GBM patients.

Topics: Animals; Apoptosis; Autophagy; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Survival; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Glioblastoma; Humans; Immunity, Innate; Indenes; Mice; Mice, Nude; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Neoplasms, Experimental; Reactive Oxygen Species; Serotonin Receptor Agonists; Sesquiterpenes