Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive primary
tumor in the central nervous system, accounting for 12%-15% of all
brain tumors. 3-O-Acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic
acid (AKBA), one of the most active ingredients of gum resin from Boswellia carteri Birdw., was reported to inhibit the growth of
glioblastoma cells and subcutaneous
glioblastoma. However, whether AKBA has antitumor effects on orthotopic
glioblastoma and the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. An orthotopic mouse model was used to evaluate the anti-
glioblastoma effects of AKBA. The effects of AKBA on
tumor growth were evaluated using MRI. The effects on the alteration of metabolic landscape were detected by MALDI-MSI. The underlying mechanisms of autophagy reducing by AKBA treatment were determined by immunoblotting and immunofluorescence, respectively. Transmission electron microscope was used to check morphology of cells treated by AKBA. Our results showed that AKBA (100 mg/kg) significantly inhibited the growth of orthotopic U87-MG
gliomas. Results from MALDI-MSI showed that AKBA improved the metabolic profile of mice with
glioblastoma, while immunoblot assays revealed that AKBA suppressed the expression of ATG5, p62, LC3B, p-ERK/ERK, and P53, and increased the ratio of p-mTOR/mTOR. Taken together, these results suggested that the antitumor effects of AKBA were related to the normalization of aberrant metabolism in the
glioblastoma and the inhibition of autophagy. AKBA could be a promising
chemotherapy drug for
glioblastoma.