Anticancer Effects of Fenugreek and Cinnamon Extracts in Combination with Doxorubicin and Cisplatin on U87 Glioblastoma Cell Line

Objective: Glioblastoma multiforme is one of the most aggressive brain tumors, with a low survival rate and limited treatment options. Moreover, resistance to chemotherapy complicates the treatment. Plant extracts are commonly used to overcome drug resistance and support currently used chemotherapies. This study aimed to determine the anticancer effect of fenugreek and cinnamon extracts in combination with doxorubicin and cisplatin on U87 glioblastoma cells. Methods: Fenugreek and cinnamon extracts were donated by Indus Biotech (India). The 50% viability of fenugreek, cinnamon, doxorubicin, and cisplatin was determined by MTT assay. The combination of plant extracts and drugs was also applied to U87 cells. Apoptosis and cell cycle analysis were performed by flow cytometry. Results: IC50 concentrations for 24h were found to be 224.8 µg/mL for fenugreek, 3269 µg/mL for cinnamon, 3.2 µM for doxorubicin, and 770 µM for cisplatin, respectively. Fenugreek, doxorubicin, and fenugreek-cisplatin groups were found to be more cytotoxic than cinnamon-doxorubicin and cinnamon-cisplatin groups. The treatment of plant extracts and drugs seems to shift the cell cycle distribution, particularly increasing the G0/G1 phase. Conclusion: These results are thought to be meaningful in understanding the potential effectiveness of the combination of fenugreek and cinnamon with traditional chemotherapeutic agents in cancer treatment.