Research Article

Effects of Combined Artemisia absinthium and Temozolomide Treatment on Apoptosis, Autophagy, and Nitric Oxide Synthase in Glioblastoma

Volume: 10 Number: 1 February 13, 2026
TR EN

Effects of Combined Artemisia absinthium and Temozolomide Treatment on Apoptosis, Autophagy, and Nitric Oxide Synthase in Glioblastoma

Abstract

Artemisia absinthium (wormwood; WO) is a plant known for its anticancer potential and this study comprehensively evaluates the effects of WO, alone and in combination with Temozolomide (TMZ), on cytotoxicity, apoptosis, autophagy, mitochondrial membrane potential, cell migration, and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) responses in T98-G glioblastoma cells. Cytotoxicity, apoptosis, autophagy, mitochondrial membrane potential, and cell migration were assessed using MTT, Annexin V-FITC/PI, JC-1, monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining, and wound healing assay, respectively. Protein levels of eNOS, iNOS, and LC3-II were examined using immunofluorescence and western blotting. WO significantly reduced T98-G cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner with pronounced cytotoxicity observed at 48 and 72 hours. The combined treatment increased early (24.6%) and late (40.5%) apoptosis, reducing cell viability to 31.9%. Combined treatment markedly increased autophagic vacuoles, enhancing perinuclear and cytoplasmic accumulation compared with single agents. Combined WO and TMZ treatment disrupted mitochondrial membrane potential more prominently than either agent alone, suggesting that apoptosis is mediated via the mitochondrial pathway. WO strongly inhibited T98-G cell migration, whereas TMZ and the combination had moderate suppressive effects. In T98-G cells, WO IC₅₀ significantly increased eNOS (p<0.0001), iNOS (p<0.0001), and LC3 (p<0.01), while TMZ IC₅₀ moderately increased iNOS (p<0.05) and combined treatment maximally elevated iNOS and LC3 (p<0.0001) without further affecting eNOS. Preliminary Western blot analyses qualitatively corroborated the immunofluorescence data, indicating consistent treatment-dependent trends in eNOS, iNOS, and LC3-II expression. These findings highlight the potential of WO in enhancing TMZ efficacy and provide a basis for further investigation in glioblastoma therapy.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Manisa Celal Bayar University. Scientific Research Projects Committee.

Project Number

2022-025

Ethical Statement

Ethics committee approval is not required for this study.

Thanks

The authors thank the Scientific Research Projects Committee of Manisa Celal Bayar University for supporting this work (Project No. 2022-025).

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Cell Development, Proliferation and Death

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

February 13, 2026

Submission Date

December 9, 2025

Acceptance Date

January 29, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 10 Number: 1

APA
Tuğrul, B., Çöllü, F., & Gürcü, B. (2026). Effects of Combined Artemisia absinthium and Temozolomide Treatment on Apoptosis, Autophagy, and Nitric Oxide Synthase in Glioblastoma. Commagene Journal of Biology, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.31594/commagene.1839245
AMA
1.Tuğrul B, Çöllü F, Gürcü B. Effects of Combined Artemisia absinthium and Temozolomide Treatment on Apoptosis, Autophagy, and Nitric Oxide Synthase in Glioblastoma. Comm. J. Biol. 2026;10(1). doi:10.31594/commagene.1839245
Chicago
Tuğrul, Berrin, Fatih Çöllü, and Beyhan Gürcü. 2026. “Effects of Combined Artemisia Absinthium and Temozolomide Treatment on Apoptosis, Autophagy, and Nitric Oxide Synthase in Glioblastoma”. Commagene Journal of Biology 10 (1). https://doi.org/10.31594/commagene.1839245.
EndNote
Tuğrul B, Çöllü F, Gürcü B (February 1, 2026) Effects of Combined Artemisia absinthium and Temozolomide Treatment on Apoptosis, Autophagy, and Nitric Oxide Synthase in Glioblastoma. Commagene Journal of Biology 10 1
IEEE
[1]B. Tuğrul, F. Çöllü, and B. Gürcü, “Effects of Combined Artemisia absinthium and Temozolomide Treatment on Apoptosis, Autophagy, and Nitric Oxide Synthase in Glioblastoma”, Comm. J. Biol., vol. 10, no. 1, Feb. 2026, doi: 10.31594/commagene.1839245.
ISNAD
Tuğrul, Berrin - Çöllü, Fatih - Gürcü, Beyhan. “Effects of Combined Artemisia Absinthium and Temozolomide Treatment on Apoptosis, Autophagy, and Nitric Oxide Synthase in Glioblastoma”. Commagene Journal of Biology 10/1 (February 1, 2026). https://doi.org/10.31594/commagene.1839245.
JAMA
1.Tuğrul B, Çöllü F, Gürcü B. Effects of Combined Artemisia absinthium and Temozolomide Treatment on Apoptosis, Autophagy, and Nitric Oxide Synthase in Glioblastoma. Comm. J. Biol. 2026;10. doi:10.31594/commagene.1839245.
MLA
Tuğrul, Berrin, et al. “Effects of Combined Artemisia Absinthium and Temozolomide Treatment on Apoptosis, Autophagy, and Nitric Oxide Synthase in Glioblastoma”. Commagene Journal of Biology, vol. 10, no. 1, Feb. 2026, doi:10.31594/commagene.1839245.
Vancouver
1.Berrin Tuğrul, Fatih Çöllü, Beyhan Gürcü. Effects of Combined Artemisia absinthium and Temozolomide Treatment on Apoptosis, Autophagy, and Nitric Oxide Synthase in Glioblastoma. Comm. J. Biol. 2026 Feb. 1;10(1). doi:10.31594/commagene.1839245