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Curcumin and turmeric as preventive agents for iron‐related carcinogenesis.
Author(s) -
Messner Donald J,
Robinson Todd,
Kowdley Kris V.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.27.1_supplement.1104.2
Subject(s) - curcumin , curcuminoid , chemistry , pharmacology , curcuma , in vivo , carcinogen , carcinogenesis , neoplastic transformation , oxidative stress , mtt assay , in vitro , biochemistry , traditional medicine , biology , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , gene
Iron overload is a risk factor for liver cancer. The aim of this study was to determine whether curcumin (diferuloylmethane) and related compounds, previously shown to bind iron and reduce iron toxicity in cultured cells, can also prevent iron‐related carcinogenesis in vitro . Curcumin is derived from the food spice turmeric; our test agents included a defined mixture of purified curcuminoids and a standardized turmeric ( C. longa ) extract. Both preparations reduced oxidative stress (TBARS assay) and cytotoxicity (mtt assay) associated with iron overload in T51B cells, a non‐neoplastic rat liver cell line. Iron (ferric ammonium citrate, FAC) acted as a tumor promoter in this model: neoplastic transformation (as judged by growth in soft agar) was increased by initiation with 0.5 μg/ml MNNG followed by 16 week culture with 200 μM FAC (p<0.05). This was reduced (p<0.05) by coadministration (with FAC) of 20 μM purified curcuminoids or the turmeric extract. Effects at lower concentrations were less consistent. Curcuminoid levels in the cells peaked in the first 4 hours of treatment and declined with a half‐life of 1–2 days. Depending partly on dosing frequency, inhibition of cell transformation could be maintained through 20 weeks of iron exposure. These results demonstrate that curcumin can prevent iron‐related carcinogenesis in vitro . They justify and inform further study in vivo . Supported by NIH grant AT03448.