In vitro anticancer effects of a marine-derived glycosaminoglycan-containing extract from Dicentrarchus labrax scales on human glioblastoma cells

Yunus Aksüt; Nebahat Buşra Aksoy; Aslıhan Şengelen; Eren Yıldırım; Emre Yemişken; Murat Pekmez

In vitro anticancer effects of a marine-derived glycosaminoglycan-containing extract from Dicentrarchus labrax scales on human glioblastoma cells

Abstract

Background: Marine ecosystems are an underexplored source of structurally diverse bioactive compounds with therapeutic potential. Among these, glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) have gained attention for their anticoagulant, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor properties. Glioblastoma, the most aggressive malignant primary brain tumor in adults, remains largely incurable due to its high invasiveness, therapeutic resistance, and the protective blood–brain barrier. Therefore, the ongoing need to identify new treatment candidates persists.

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the potential anticancer effects of Dicentrarchus labrax (European seabass) scale extract (DLSE) on human glioblastoma U-87MG cells.

Methods: GAG-containing extracts were prepared from fish scales, and their chemical structures were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Cell viability was determined by the MTT assay, migration by scratch wound-healing assay, apoptosis by Hoechst/PI staining, and molecular changes by immunoblotting.

Results: FTIR analysis confirmed the key functional groups consistent with a GAG-like polysaccharide profile. DLSE reduced cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner, with an IC50 value of 993 μg/mL at 72 hours. Treatments with 600 and 1000 μg/mL DLSE for 72 hours inhibited cell migration, induced apoptosis, increased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and elevated levels of cleaved caspase-3 and PARP1. DLSE also activated p53/p21-mediated cell-cycle regulatory pathways, and induced ER stress through dose-dependent increases in Grp78, PERK, IRE1α, and cleaved ATF6 levels.

Conclusion: Our findings indicate that GAG-containing DLSE stimulates multiple antitumor pathways in glioblastoma cells. Although further in vivo research and compound fractionation are necessary, marine-derived GAG-rich extracts could be promising adjuncts for glioblastoma therapy.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

The Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit of Istanbul University, Türkiye

Project Number

FYL-2022-39238

Ethical Statement

Since the article does not contain any studies with human or animal subject, its approval to the ethics committee was not required.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Glycobiology

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Yunus Aksüt
0000-0001-9407-5019
Türkiye

Nebahat Buşra Aksoy This is me
0009-0003-1931-3058
Türkiye

Aslıhan Şengelen
0000-0003-2512-319X
Türkiye

Eren Yıldırım
0000-0002-7924-9698
Türkiye

Emre Yemişken
0000-0002-7738-5936
Türkiye

Murat Pekmez
0000-0002-6150-8372
Türkiye

Early Pub Date

June 12, 2026

Publication Date

-

Submission Date

March 26, 2026

Acceptance Date

June 6, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Number: Advanced Online Publication

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA47RU53LP

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Aksüt, Y., Aksoy, N. B., Şengelen, A., Yıldırım, E., Yemişken, E., & Pekmez, M. (2026). In vitro anticancer effects of a marine-derived glycosaminoglycan-containing extract from Dicentrarchus labrax scales on human glioblastoma cells. Trakya University Journal of Natural Sciences, Advanced Online Publication. https://izlik.org/JA47RU53LP

AMA

1.Aksüt Y, Aksoy NB, Şengelen A, Yıldırım E, Yemişken E, Pekmez M. In vitro anticancer effects of a marine-derived glycosaminoglycan-containing extract from Dicentrarchus labrax scales on human glioblastoma cells. Trakya Univ J Nat Sci. 2026;(Advanced Online Publication). https://izlik.org/JA47RU53LP

Chicago

Aksüt, Yunus, Nebahat Buşra Aksoy, Aslıhan Şengelen, Eren Yıldırım, Emre Yemişken, and Murat Pekmez. 2026. “In Vitro Anticancer Effects of a Marine-Derived Glycosaminoglycan-Containing Extract from Dicentrarchus Labrax Scales on Human Glioblastoma Cells”. Trakya University Journal of Natural Sciences, no. Advanced Online Publication. https://izlik.org/JA47RU53LP.

EndNote

Aksüt Y, Aksoy NB, Şengelen A, Yıldırım E, Yemişken E, Pekmez M (June 1, 2026) In vitro anticancer effects of a marine-derived glycosaminoglycan-containing extract from Dicentrarchus labrax scales on human glioblastoma cells. Trakya University Journal of Natural Sciences Advanced Online Publication

IEEE

[1]Y. Aksüt, N. B. Aksoy, A. Şengelen, E. Yıldırım, E. Yemişken, and M. Pekmez, “In vitro anticancer effects of a marine-derived glycosaminoglycan-containing extract from Dicentrarchus labrax scales on human glioblastoma cells”, Trakya Univ J Nat Sci, no. Advanced Online Publication, June 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA47RU53LP

ISNAD

Aksüt, Yunus - Aksoy, Nebahat Buşra - Şengelen, Aslıhan - Yıldırım, Eren - Yemişken, Emre - Pekmez, Murat. “In Vitro Anticancer Effects of a Marine-Derived Glycosaminoglycan-Containing Extract from Dicentrarchus Labrax Scales on Human Glioblastoma Cells”. Trakya University Journal of Natural Sciences. Advanced Online Publication (June 1, 2026). https://izlik.org/JA47RU53LP.

JAMA

1.Aksüt Y, Aksoy NB, Şengelen A, Yıldırım E, Yemişken E, Pekmez M. In vitro anticancer effects of a marine-derived glycosaminoglycan-containing extract from Dicentrarchus labrax scales on human glioblastoma cells. Trakya Univ J Nat Sci. 2026. Available at https://izlik.org/JA47RU53LP.

MLA

Aksüt, Yunus, et al. “In Vitro Anticancer Effects of a Marine-Derived Glycosaminoglycan-Containing Extract from Dicentrarchus Labrax Scales on Human Glioblastoma Cells”. Trakya University Journal of Natural Sciences, no. Advanced Online Publication, June 2026, https://izlik.org/JA47RU53LP.

Vancouver

1.Yunus Aksüt, Nebahat Buşra Aksoy, Aslıhan Şengelen, Eren Yıldırım, Emre Yemişken, Murat Pekmez. In vitro anticancer effects of a marine-derived glycosaminoglycan-containing extract from Dicentrarchus labrax scales on human glioblastoma cells. Trakya Univ J Nat Sci [Internet]. 2026 Jun. 1;(Advanced Online Publication). Available from: https://izlik.org/JA47RU53LP