Naringenin, a flavanone alters the tumorigenic features of C6 glioma cells

The effect of naringenin on the growth of C6 glioma cells was investigated in the current study. Suppression of cell growth was assessed by MTT assay. Induction of cell cycle arrest was assessed by propidium iodide staining using flowcytometric analysis. Induction of DNA damage was assessed by agarose gel electrophoresis. The antiproliferative effect of NGEN was also assessed and confirmed by cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) activity assay. Gap junctional analysis was also done using dye transfer technique. The results showed that NGEN inhibited the growth of C6 cells in a dose dependent manner, compared to the control. At 20 and 30 μg concentrations, NGEN induced cell cycle arrest, induced DNA damage in C6 cells, reduced the activity of COX-2 and increased the gap junction intracellular communication (GJIC). Thus NGEN, a component of citrus fruit, suppresses the growth of C6 cells through the inhibition of proliferation.