Abstract: Objective To find potential effect of Ginkgo biloba extract on proliferation and migration of human glioma cell line. Methods Glioma cell line U87 was cultured and incubated with Ginkgo biloba extract at doses of 0, 10, 50, and 100 μg/mL, respectively. The proliferation activity of the cells in each group was detected by 5-ethynyl-2’-deoxyuridine (EDU) experiment, the migration activity of the cells in each group was examined by scratch experiment, the invasion activity of the cells in each group was detected by Transwell experiment and the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins, phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) signaling pathway proteins and E2F transcription factor 1(E2F1)protein in each group of the cells were detected by Western blot. Reply experiment was added with PI3K/AKT pathway activator 740 Y-P. Results Ginkgo biloba extract at concentrations of 10, 50, and 100 μg/mL significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of U87 cells(P＜0.05). The protein level of vimentin, N-cadherin, p-PI3K, p-AKT and E2F1 was significantly decreased(P＜0.05), while the protein level of E-cadherin and ZO-1 was significantly increased(P＜0.05). After addition of 740 Y-P into the cultural system, the inhibitory effect of Ginkgo biloba extract on the proliferation and metastasis of U87 cells was inhibited and the protein level of vimentin, N-cadherin, p-PI3K, p-AKT, and E2F1 increased(P＜0.05), while the protein level of E-cadherin and ZO-1 was decreased(P＜0.05). Conclusions Ginkgo biloba extract may inhibit proliferation, migration and EMT of U87 cells, which is potentially related to the PI3K/AKT/E2F1 pathway.

Key words: Ginkgo biloba extract, glioma, PI3K/AKT pathway, E2F transcription factor 1(E2F1)