Shikonin combined with curcumin synergistically induces apoptosis of glioma cells by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/NF‑κB signaling pathway
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly aggressive, recurrent and drug-resistant malignancy of the central nervous system, with a poor prognosis and a median survival rate of <18 months, highlighting the need for the identification of novel therapeutic approaches.The natural products shikonin and curcumin have been reported to exhibit anti-glioma properties and regulate the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway.However, their combined effects and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unclear.Using human glioma U251 cells and U87 cells as in vitro models, cell viability was assessed by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, colony formation was evaluated by colony formation assay and apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry and Hoechst 33258 staining.The present study found that combined treatment with shikonin and curcumin synergistically reduced cell proliferation and colony formation ability (combination index <1), enhanced apoptosis induction and exhibited relatively lower cytotoxicity toward healthy cells.Mechanistically, western blot analysis showed that the combination treatment increased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and elevated the protein expression levels of cleaved caspase-9, cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved-poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, while attenuating Akt (Ser473) and IκBα (Ser32) phosphorylation, and immunofluorescence confocal microscopy revealed reduced p65 nuclear translocation.These findings suggest that shikonin and curcumin may exert synergistic anti-glioma effects in vitro through inhibition of the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling axis and activation of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway.Collectively, the present study provides preliminary cellular evidence indicating that the combination of shikonin and curcumin may represent a potential sensitizing approach for further investigation in GBM treatment.
Source: Oncology Letters
Institution: Shantou University Medical College
Language: English
Subfield: Oncology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7223337015