Using a novel curcumin-loaded niosome nanoparticle (CM-NP), the present study was designed to evaluate the effect of curcumin on human glioblastoma stem-like cells (GSCs). CM-NP has a diameter of ~ 60 nm and a zeta potential of ~ − 35 mV with a constant physicochemical stability. The cytotoxic effects of free curcumin (CM) and CM-NP were investigated on GSCs obtained during the removal of a brain tumor. Both CM and CM-NP caused a dose-dependent decrease in cell proliferation and viability of GSCs. The IC50 values of CM and CM-NP on GSCs were 50 and 137 μg/ml after 24 h, respectively. CM-NP exerted significantly higher effects on GSC viability, apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and the expression of Bax, a pro-apoptotic marker, compared with CM. In addition, the migration of GSCs was significantly impaired following the administration of CM-NP compared with CM. Furthermore, CM-NP significantly increased the values of reactive oxygen species and decreased the mRNA expressions of NF-κB and IL-6 of GSCs compared with CM. Our data also revealed that CM-NP could significantly reduce the invasiveness of GSCs compared with CM, possibly via MCP-1-mediated pathways. In addition, CM-NP exhibited a significantly greater inhibitory effect on colony formation of GSCs compared with CM. These data indicate that CM-NP exhibited stronger anti-tumor effects on GSCs than CM. Although further in vivo investigations are warranted, our results suggest that CM-NP could be an ideal carrier to deliver curcumin for potential therapeutic approaches into glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most hostile tumor in the central nervous system. Unfortunately, the prognosis of GBM patients is poor following surgical interventions, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Consequently, more efficient and effective treatment options for the treatment of GBM need to be explored. Zerumbone, as a sesquiterpene derived from Zingiber zerumbet Smith, has substantial cytotoxic and antiproliferative activities in some types of cancer. Here, we show that exposure of GBM cells (U-87 MG) to Zerumbone demonstrated significant growth inhibition in a concentration-dependent manner. Zerumbone also induced apoptosis and caused cell cycle arrest of human GBM U-87 MG cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. In detail, the apoptotic process triggered by Zerumbone involved the upregulation of proapoptotic Bax and the suppression of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 genes expression as determined by qRT-PCR. Moreover, Zerumbone enhanced the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), as an antioxidant, reversed the ROS-induced cytotoxicity of U-87 MG cells. The Western blot analysis suggested that Zerumbone activated the NF-κB p65, which was partly inhibited by NAC treatment. Collectively, our results confirmed that Zerumbone induces cytotoxicity by ROS generation. Thus, the study raises the possibility of Zerumbone as a potential natural agent for treating GBM due to its ability to induce cytotoxicity.

Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is a poorly curable brain tumor because of its extremely invasive nature. Curcuminoids, as potential phytochemicals extracted from Curcuma Longa L., have been documented for their chemopreventive and antitumor activities against several types of malignancies. These compounds exert these effects via modulation of multiple signaling pathways and molecular targets at different stages of tumor progression, proliferation, and metastasis. In experimental studies, curcuminoids have demonstrated promising therapeutic benefits to overcome GBM. Curcuminoids have been shown to exert their anti-GBM effects through regulation of angiogenesis, apoptosis, autophagy, metastasis, invasion, as well as potential molecular targets, including receptor tyrosine kinases, Sonic Hedgehog, and NF-κB. This study reviews the observations regarding the impact of curcumin and its derivatives on GBM and the potential of translating the research findings into the clinic.