Author(s)

Ala Fulga^1,2*, Mihail Todiras³, Valentin Gudumac², Olga Tagadiuc¹

¹Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova.
²Laboratory of Biochemistry, Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova.
³Health and Biomedicine Research Center, Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova.

Background: In spite of the progress that has been made towards development of many drugs, the accompanying toxicities and side effects sustain that further studies are required to reduce the incidence of tumor-related deaths. Taraxacum officinale (TO) known else as Dandelion, exerts many promising activities, like antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor etc. It demonstrated its effectiveness in case of many types of tumors, through different mechanisms of cytotoxicity. The aim of the present study was to determine the TO leaves and roots extracts influence on tumor glioblastoma cells line U-138 viability. Material and Methods: TO dry leaves and roots were extracted by DMSO, ethanol, and water. U-138 MG (Cell Lines Service) glioblastoma cells viability was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-dipheny-ltetrazolium bromide test. TO’s influence was compared with Doxorubicin activity. Results: All TO extracts suppressed the tumor cells viability. The greatest inhibitory influence on glial cells viability was shown by TO roots extracts made in 80% ethanol (50,000 μg/L - 8.49 ± 1.04) and Doxorubicin (54350 μg/L - 8.64 ± 1.65). The lowest influence on astrocytes was determined in case of Doxorubicin at concentration of 1.28 μg/L (96.6 ± 2.76). Conclusions: Taraxacum officinale is a promising source of many substances with multiple benefits for humans. The exercised actions depend on type of extractant and plants’ part. The greatest influence on glial tumors had the extract of roots made in ethanol of 80%. Further investigations are needed to explore the precise composition of the TO extracts, the importance of individual components and of their combination in neoplasms treatment and/or prevention.

Taraxacum officinale, Glioblastoma, Extractant Type, MTT Test

Fulga, A. , Todiras, M. , Gudumac, V. and Tagadiuc, O. (2022) Taraxacum officinale Leaves and Roots Suppress Glioma Cell Viability. Journal of Biosciences and Medicines, 10, 175-189. doi: 10.4236/jbm.2022.103017.