Toxicol Res.  2013 Dec;29(4):257-261.

Cytotoxic Activity from Curcuma zedoaria Through Mitochondrial Activation on Ovarian Cancer Cells

• Shin Y
• Lee Y

Abstract

alpha-Curcumene is one of the physiologically active components of Curcuma zedoaria, which is believed to perform anti-tumor activities, the mechanisms of which are poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated the mechanism of the apoptotic effect of alpha-curcumene on the growth of human overian cancer, SiHa cells. Upon treatment with alpha-curcumene, cell viability of SiHa cells was inhibited > 73% for 48 h incubation. alpha-Curcumene treatment showed a characteristic nucleosomal DNA fragmentation pattern and the percentage of sub-diploid cells was increased in a concentration-dependent manner, hallmark features of apoptosis. Mitochondrial cytochrome c activation and an in vitro caspase-3 activity assay demonstrated that the activation of caspases accompanies the apoptotic effect of alpha-curcumene, which mediates cell death. These results suggest that the apoptotic effect of alpha-curcumene on SiHa cells may converge caspase-3 activation through the release of mitochondrial cytochrome c.

Keyword

Cytotoxic activity; alpha-Curcumene; Mitochondrial activation; ovarian cancer cells

MeSH Terms

Apoptosis
Caspase 3
Caspases
Cell Death
Cell Survival
Curcuma*
Cytochromes c
DNA Fragmentation
Humans
Ovarian Neoplasms*
Caspase 3
Caspases
Cytochromes c