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Antitumor activity of curcumin is mediated through the induction of apoptosis in AK‐5 tumor cells
Author(s) -
Khar Ashok,
Ali A.Mubarak,
Pardhasaradhi B.V.V,
Begum Zareena,
Anjum Rana
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/s0014-5793(99)00114-3
Subject(s) - curcumin , apoptosis , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , cancer research , pharmacology , biology , biochemistry
Curcumin, the yellow pigment of turmeric ( Curcuma longa ), used commonly as a spice, has been shown to possess anticarcinogenic activity. Curcumin inhibited AK‐5 tumor growth and induced apoptosis in AK‐5 cells. Curcumin induced apoptosis is mediated through the activation of caspase‐3, which is specifically inhibited by the tetrapeptide Ac‐DEVD‐CHO. In addition, curcumin induced tumor cell death is caused through the generation of reactive oxygen intermediates which is inhibited by N ‐acetyl‐ l ‐cysteine. Our studies suggest that the apoptotic process induced by curcumin is the mechanism mediating AK‐5 tumor cell death.