Analysis of Cytotoxic Effects of Zerumbone in Malignant Glioblastoma Cells.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive tumor in the central nervous system with a poor prognosis. Currently, the main interventions include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Recently, several natural products have been reported as potentially effective and safer treatment options. Here, we studied the effects of zerumbone, a sesquiterpene compound derived from Zingiber zerumbet Smith rhizomes, on human GBM U-87 MG cells in vitro. To meet this purpose, we used a cytotoxicity assay, as well as a quantitative polymerase chain reaction of apoptosis-related genes and western blot analysis of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), a transcription factor that controls the production of cytokines and molecules involved in cell survival.