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Curcumin mediated apoptosis in AK‐5 tumor cells involves the production of reactive oxygen intermediates
Author(s) -
Bhaumik Sraboni,
Anjum Rana,
Rangaraj Nandini,
Pardhasaradhi B.V.V,
Khar Ashok
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)00969-2
Subject(s) - curcumin , apoptosis , reactive oxygen species , chemistry , cytochrome c , microbiology and biotechnology , cancer cell , cytosol , biochemistry , biology , enzyme , cancer , genetics
Curcumin, the active ingredient of the rhizome of Curcuma longa has anti‐inflammatory, antioxidant and antiproliferative activities. Although its precise mode of action remains elusive, studies have shown that chemopreventive action of curcumin might be due to its ability to induce apoptosis in cancer cells. Curcumin was shown to be responsible for the inhibition of AK‐5 tumor (a rat histiocytoma) growth by inducing apoptosis in AK‐5 tumor cells via caspase activation. This study was designed to investigate the mechanism leading to the induction of apoptosis in AK‐5 tumor cells. Curcumin treatment resulted in the hyperproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψ m ) and cytochrome c release to the cytosol, with the concomitant exposure of phosphatidylserine (PS) residues on the cell surface. This study suggests redox signalling and caspase activation as the mechanisms responsible for the induction of curcumin mediated apoptosis in AK‐5 tumor cells.