Naringenin, a flavanone inhibits the proliferation of cerebrally implanted C6 glioma cells in rats

Tumor cells are able to survive and proliferate in spite of their increased oxidative stress. This was taken as a hint for the implication of oxidants/antioxidants in the proliferation of glial-tumor cells. In the present study, an anti-proliferative effect of Naringenin, an antioxidant against cerebrally implanted C6 glioma cells in rats has been investigated. The status of lipid peroxidation/antioxidants, expressions of protein kinase C, nuclear factor κB, cyclin D1, cyclin dependent kinase 4, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, vascular endothelial growth factor, argyophillic nucleolar organizing regions and histopathology of brain tissues of control and experimental rats were analyzed. On supplementation of naringenin (50 mg/kg BW for 30 days) to glioma induced rats, there was a reduction in lipid peroxidation with an increased antioxidant status. There was a significant decrease in the expressions of protein kinase C, nuclear factor κB, cyclin D1 and cyclin dependent kinase 4 on naringenin treatment. Further, the drug could modulate the glial-tumor cell proliferation as evidenced from the histopathological findings, argyophillic nucleolar organizing regions staining, proliferating cell nuclear antigen and vascular endothelial growth factor immunostaining. The findings suggest that naringenin could underlie the inhibition of glial tumor cell proliferation in C6 glioma models of rat.