Work

Combinatorial treatment with formononetin and magnolol induces synergistic cytotoxicity and suppresses migration in glioblastoma cells.

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: values and synergy (Chou-Talalay method). Proliferation, migration (wound healing), colony formation, and apoptosis (Hoechst staining) were evaluated. Gene expression (qPCR) of targets like survivin, cyclin D1, and antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GPX) was analyzed. Enzymatic activities and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were measured. FMN and MAG synergistically reduced cell survival (CI=0.72 at 80 µM each). Combination treatment significantly inhibited proliferation, migration, and colony formation more effectively than single agents. This impounds downregulated pro-survival genes (survivin, cyclin D1, MMP-9) and upregulated pro-apoptotic Bad. Paradoxically, it also enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity and TAC. Despite this compensatory response, the treatment induced significant nuclear fragmentation indicative of apoptosis. The FMN and MAG combination exerts potent synergistic antiglioblastoma effects by disrupting proliferation and survival pathways, ultimately inducing apoptosis, even while triggering a compensatory antioxidant response. These in vitro findings provide a hypothesis-generating foundation for further investigation of formononetin and magnolol as a potential combinatorial approach for glioblastoma, pending rigorous in vivo validation and blood-brain barrier permeability studies.

Source: PubMed Central

DOI: 10.22088/ijmcm.bums.15.2.1396

Authors: Fatemeh Dinarvand, Naghmeh Haddadi, Mohammad Zand, Hadi Karami

Institution: Arak University of Medical Sciences

Language: English

Topic: Flavonoids in Medical Research

Subfield: Pharmacology (medical)

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: Arak University of Medical Sciences