Protective Role of Natural Products in Glioblastoma Multiforme: A Focus on Nitric Oxide Pathway

Abstract

In spite of therapeutic modalities such as surgical resection, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) remains an incurable fatal disease. This necessitates further therapeutic options that could enhance the efficacy of existing modalities. Nitric Oxide (NO), a short-lived small molecule, has been revealed to play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of GBM. Several studies have demonstrated that NO is involved in apoptosis, metastasis, cellular proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion, and many other processes implicated in GBM pathobiology. Herein, we elaborate on the role of NO as a therapeutic target in GBM and discuss some natural products affecting the NO signaling pathway.

Keywords: Glioblastoma multiforme; angiogenesis; apoptosis; metastasis; natural products; nitric oxide.