Investigation of the apoptotic effect of curcumin in human leukemia HL-60 cells by using flow cytometry

• Published in: Cancer biotherapy & radiopharmaceuticals Vol. 25; no. 6; pp. 749 - 755
• Main Authors: Dikmen, Miriş, Canturk, Zerrin, Ozturk, Yusuf, Tunali, Yagmur
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Mary Ann Liebert, Inc 01.12.2010
• Subjects: Apoptosis; Apoptosis - drug effects; Caspase 3 - metabolism; Cell Survival - drug effects; Chemical properties; Curcuma longa; Curcumin - pharmacology; Development and progression; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Flow Cytometry; Health aspects; HL-60 Cells; Humans; Leukemia; Leukemia - drug therapy; Methods; Observations; Turmeric; Turkey
• ISSN: 1084-9785; 1557-8852
• DOI: 10.1089/cbr.2010.0822

Curcumin (diferuloylmethane), the major yellow pigment isolated from the turmeric (Curcuma longa), has received much attention due to several biological properties. Curcumin exhibits a variety of pharmacological effects including antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and anti-infectious activities. In the present study, the effects of curcumin on apoptosis in the acute promyelocytic human leukemia (HL-60) cells was evaluated. Cytotoxic effects of curcumin on HL-60 cells were determined by MTT. HL-60 cells underwent apoptosis on treatment with curcumin, as indicated by increased annexin V-binding capacity and caspase-3 activation with flow cytometric analysis. Concentrations of 15, 20, and 40 μM curcumin significantly reduced cell proliferations. When HL-60 cells were treated with 10, 15, 20, and 40 μM concentration of curcumin, apoptotic rates were determined as 1.2, 81.1, 84.5, and 88.6%, respectively. On the incubations with the concentrations of curcumin, caspase-3 expressions (+) were found to be elevated by 8.5, 18.6, 91.2, and 92.4%, respectively. It was shown that curcumin had significant cytotoxic and apoptotic effects on HL-60 cells. It was suggested that curcumin may have a potential therapeutic role for human leukemia.