Abstract: Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of morusin on the migration and invasion of human glioblastoma U87 cells,and to explore its mechanism of action. Methods The Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8)was used to detect the effect of morusin on proliferation of U87 cells.Wound-healing and Transwell assays were used to detect the effects of morusin on migration and invasion of U87 cells.Western blot was employed to detect the effect of morusin on the expressions of MMP-2 and Vimentin in U87 cells. Results The results of CCK-8 assay showed that morusin (1,2,4,and 6 μg/mL)could significantly inhibit the proliferation of U87 cells compared to the 0 μg/mL morusin (P＜0.001).The results of wound-healing assay showed that the migration rates of morusin-treated groups (2,4,and 6 μg/mL)were (20.597±1.225)%,(14.734±1.528)% and (7.811±1.496)%,respectively,which were significant lower than that in the 0 μg/mL group (40.566±3.284)% (P＜0.001).The results of Transwell assay showed that the invasion number of U87 cells treated with morusin at the concentrations of 2,4,and 6 μg/mL was 85.000±6.557,41.000±6.245,and 13.333±3.215,respectively,which were significant lower than that in the 0 μg/mL group (116.667±14.572) (P＜0.001).The results of Western blot showed that the expression of Vimentin in U87 cells increased gradually accompanying with the increase of morusin concentrations,while the expression of MMP-2 decreased gradually accompanying with the increase of morusin concentrations (P＜0.001). Conclusion Morusin can effectively inhibit the migration and invasion ability of U87 cells,and its effect is positively correlated with the concentration of morusin within a certain range.

Key words: Morusin, Glioblastoma, Migration, Invasion