From tumor reduction to behavioral improvement and cytokine balance: Therapeutic role of petroleum ether extract of Teucrium polium in a rat model of C6-induced glioblastoma.

This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of the petroleum ether extract of Teucrium polium (T. polium) on cognitive behaviors, oxidative stress, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and interleukin10 (IL-10) cytokines, tumor volume, and survival rate on C6-induced glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in rats. The rats were randomly divided into seven groups (n = 10): sham, tumor, vehicle, Temozolomide (TMZ), and T. polium at doses of 1, 2, 4 mg/kg. Behavioral assessments were performed using the open field test (OFT), elevated plus maze (EPM), rotarod test (RT), and passive avoidance test (PAT) to examine anxiety-like behavior, motor function, and memory. Positron Emission Tomography (PET( imaging was performed on day 25. Histopathological changes, and Ki-67 were assessed using Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) and Immunohistochemistry (IHC), and the tumor area was measured. Malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and IL-1β and IL-10 cytokines in brain tissue were evaluated. Survival rate was also assessed for three months. T. polium, especially at a dose of 2 mg/kg could inhibit GBM proliferation and reduce tumor area and Fluorodeoxyglucose )FDG( uptake. T. polium, particularly at the higher doses, improved anxiety-like behaviour and motor dysfunction. IL-1β and IL-10 reduced in the treatment groups. It should be mentioned that T. polium could not improve memory, survival rate, and oxidant status. Considering the anti-anxiety and anti-tumor properties of T. polium and its neuroprotective effects in rats with GBM, it may be regarded as a complementary therapeutic agent to TMZ in the treatment of GBM. Further studies are needed to clarify the underlying mechanisms and their clinical significance.