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Modulation of apoptosis by sulindac, curcumin, phenylethyl-3-methylcaffeate, and 6-phenylhexyl isothiocyanate: apoptotic index as a biomarker in colon cancer chemoprevention and promotion.

Recent evidence supports the theory that tumor growth in vivo depends on evasion of normal homeostatic control mechanisms that operate through induction of cell death by apoptosis. This study tested the hypothesis that several potential chemopreventive agents share the ability to induce apoptosis and that inhibition of apoptosis is a mechanism of tumor promoters. The present study was designed to investigate whether the chemopreventive properties of sulindac, curcumin, and phenylethyl-3-methylcaffeate (PEMC) and the tumor-promoting activity of 6-phenylhexyl isothiocyanate (PHITC) that were observed in our previous studies are associated with the induction or inhibition of apoptosis in azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon tumors in male F344 rats. At 5 weeks of age, groups of rats were fed control (modified AIN-76A) diet or diets containing 320 ppm of sulindac, 2000 ppm of curcumin, 750 ppm of PEMC, or 640 ppm of PHITC. At 7 weeks of age, all rats except those intended for vehicle (normal saline) treatment were given AOM (15 mg/kg body weight) once weekly for 2 weeks. To study the effect of sulindac administered during promotion/progression stage, the rats were fed the control diet initially and then fed the experimental diet containing 320 ppm of sulindac 14 weeks after the second AOM treatment. The rats were sacrificed 52 weeks after carcinogen treatment, and their colonic tumors were subjected to histopathological evaluation and the appearance of apoptosis. In the current study, chronic administration of sulindac, curcumin, and PEMC or sulindac given only during promotion/progression significantly increased the apoptotic index (percentage of apoptosis) as compared to administration of the control diet; the apoptotic indices in the control, sulindac, curcumin, and PEMC diets were 8.3, 17.6, 17.7, and 18.5%, respectively, and in sulindac administered during promotion/progression stage, the apoptotic index was 19.1%. However, dietary PHITC blocked the process of apoptosis during colon carcinogenesis. The apoptotic index in PHITC diet was 7.0%. Taken together, our data show that chemopreventive properties of agents are correlated with the degree of apoptosis. Therefore apoptosis seems to be a reliable biomarker for the evaluation of potential agents for cancer prevention.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Curcumin inhibits IL1 alpha and TNF-alpha induction of AP-1 and NF-kB DNA-binding activity in bone marrow stromal cells.

We have previously demonstrated that anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compound curcumin (diferuloyl-methane) inhibits the expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1/JE) in bone marrow stromal cells by suppressing the transcriptional activity of the MCP-1/JE gene. Since both AP-1 (TRE) and NF-kB (kB) binding motifs are present in the promoter of MCP-1/JE gene, we examined the effect of curcumin on IL1 alpha- and TNF-alpha-induced activation of ubiquitous transcription factors AP-1 and NF-kB by electrophoretic mobility shift assay and Western blotting. IL1 alpha and TNF-alpha rapidly induced both AP-1 and NF-kB DNA binding activities in +/+(-)1.LDA11 stromal cells. However, treatment of these cells with curcumin blocked the activation of AP-1 and NF-kB by both cytokines. These data suggest that inhibition of MCP-1/JE transcription by curcumin involves blocking of AP-1 and NF-kB activation by IL1 alpha or TNF-alpha.

Animals↗

The effect of curcumin on human B-cell immortalization by Epstein-Barr virus.

Cyclosporine is a commonly used immunosuppressant in solid-organ transplantation. It is, however, associated with an increased incidence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)induced post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD). In this study, human B lymphocytes isolated from healthy volunteers were immortalized in vitro with EBV. The effect of oxidative stress mediated by cyclosporine A or hydrogen peroxide on in vitro B cell immortalization was studied by coculturing immortalized B cells with cyclosporine A and hydrogen peroxide. Curcumin, a phenolic extract of the spice turmeric, was then used to observe its effect on this process. We found that in vitro B-cell immortalization with EBV was promoted by the oxidative stress induced by cyclosporine A and hydrogen peroxide, with the maximum effect seen at concentrations of 500 ng/ml and 100 microM, respectively. Curcumin blocked the B-cell immortalization in a dose-dependent fashion with nearly complete inhibition at 20 microM. We conclude that, because both hydrogen peroxide and cyclosporine A strongly promote in vitro B-cell immortalization with EBV (the putative process responsible for PTLD) and curcumin, an extract of a common spice is an effective inhibitor of this process; curcumin may be an effective adjunct in the prevention of PTLD in the patients undergoing therapy with cyclosporine A.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗

Dynamic Pathology of Enteric Neural Network Using Curcumin-assisted Multiphoton Laser Imaging in Hirschsprung Disease.

BACKGROUND: In living tissue, it has been difficult to make microscopic-level observations without damaging the tissue. We have invented a novel intravital fluorescent observation method (IFOM) for real-time tissue observation, combining multiphoton laser scanning microscopy with curcumin vital staining (CVS-IFOM). The aim of this study was to use CVS-IFOM to analyze the enteric nervous system (ENS) in mice and human patients with hypoganglionosis and Hirschsprung disease (HSCR). METHODS: In an initial viability study, we compared live ENS images from nonfluorescent C57BL6 mice stained with curcumin (n = 5) and green fluorescent protein mice (n = 5) using multiphoton laser scanning microscopy. We then explored CVS-IFOM for the live examination of resected colon tissues from 1 patient with hypoganglionosis and 3 patients with HSCR. RESULTS: In the viability study, detailed ENS histologic features were only observed in the curcumin-stained mice. In the patient with hypoganglionosis, CVS-IFOM provided ENS details that were not visualized under hematoxylin and eosin staining or calretinin immunohistochemistry, allowing the analysis of ENS size, neural bundle number, and neural cell number per plexus. In patients with HSCR, CVS-IFOM showed a gradual hypoplastic change in the ENS from the oral edge to the anal edge, detecting disproportionate changes in the ENS within the same intestinal level, supporting a circumferentially uneven distribution of the intestinal ENS. CONCLUSIONS: CVS-IFOM may be supportive for intraoperative pathologic diagnosis during surgeries for HSCR.

Hirschsprung Disease↗

Neuroprotective role of curcumin from curcuma longa on ethanol-induced brain damage.

In the present study, curcumin from Curcuma longa was screened for neuroprotective activity using ethanol as a model of brain injury. Oral administration of curcumin to rats caused a significant reversal in lipid peroxidation, brain lipids and produced enhancement of glutathione, a non-enzymic antioxidant in ethanol intoxicated rats, revealing that the antioxidative and hypolipidaemic action of curcumin is-responsible for its protective role against ethanol induced brain injury.

Animals↗

Role of curcumin in idiopathic inflammatory orbital pseudotumours.

The present report, describes for the first time the clinical efficacy of curcumin, the active constituent of rhizomes of Curcuma longa, in the treatment of patients suffering from idiopathic inflammatory orbital pseudotumours. Curcumin was administered orally at a dose of 375 mg/3 times/day orally for a period of 6-22 months in eight patients. They were followed up for a period of 2 years at 3 monthly intervals. Five patients completed the study, out of which four recovered completely and in one patient the swelling regressed completely but some limitation of movement persisted. No side effect was noted in any patient and there was no recurrence. It is suggested that curcumin could be used as a safe and effective drug in the treatment of idiopathic inflammatory orbital pseudotumours.

Administration, Oral↗

Inhibitory effects of curcumin and capsaicin on phorbol ester-induced activation of eukaryotic transcription factors, NF-kappaB and AP-1.

Recently, considerable attention has been focused on identifying dietary and medicinal phytochemicals that can inhibit, retard or reverse the multi-stage carcinogenesis. Spices and herbs contain phenolic substances with potent antioxidative and chemopreventive properties. Curcumin, a yellow colouring agent from turmeric and capsaicin, a pungent principle of red pepper exhibit profound anticarcinogenic and antimutagenic activities. Two well-defined eukaryotic transcription factors, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) and activator protein 1 (AP-1) have been implicated in pathogenesis of many human diseases including cancer. These transcription factors are known to be activated by a wide array of external stimuli, such as tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), tumor necrosis factor, reactive oxygen species, bacterial lipopolysaccharide, and ultraviolet. In the present study, we found that topical application of TPA onto dorsal skin of female ICR mice resulted in marked activation of epidermal NF-kappaB and AP-1. Curcumin and capsaicin, when topically applied prior to TPA, significantly attenuated TPA-induced activation of each transcription factor in mouse skin. Likewise, both compounds inhibited NF-kappaB and AP-1 activation in cultured human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cells stimulated with TPA. Based on these findings, it is likely that curcumin and capsaicin exert anti-tumor promotional effects through suppression of the tumor promoter-induced activation of transcription factors, NF-kappaB and AP-1.

Animals↗

Effect of insulin and its combination with resveratrol or curcumin in attenuation of diabetic neuropathic pain: participation of nitric oxide and TNF-alpha.

Diabetic neuropathic pain, an important microvascular complication in diabetes mellitus, is recognized as one of the most difficult types of pain to treat. The underlying mechanisms of painful symptoms may be closely associated with hyperglycaemia but a lack of the understanding of its proper aetiology, inadequate relief, development of tolerance and potential toxicity of classical antinociceptives warrant the investigation of newer agents to relieve this pain. The aim of the present study was to explore the antinociceptive effect of insulin and its combinations with resveratrol and curcumin in attenuating diabetic neuropathic pain. The study also aimed to examine the effect of these combinations on tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and nitric oxide (NO) levels in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic mice. Four weeks after a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (200 mg/kg), mice were tested in the tail immersion and hot-plate assays. Diabetic mice exhibited significant hyperalgesia along with increased plasma glucose and decreased body weights compared with control mice. Chronic treatment with insulin (10 IU/kg/day, s.c.) and its combinations with antioxidants (resveratrol 20 mg/kg or curcumin 60 mg/kg, p.o.) for 4 weeks starting from the 4th week of STZ injection significantly attenuated thermal hyperalgesia and the hot-plate latencies. There was a significant inhibition of TNF-alpha and NO levels when these drugs were given in combination compared with their effects per se. These results indicate an antinociceptive activity of resveratrol and curcumin and point towards the beneficial effect of these combinations with insulin in attenuating diabetic neuropathic pain, possibly through the participation of NO and TNF-alpha.

Animals↗

Effect of curcumin on ethanol-induced stress on mononuclear cells.

Blood cells in circulation are exposed to a wide variety of stress-causing agents, causing a number of changes including interactions with other cells and the extracellular matrix of the endothelial wall. In order to understand the role of curcumin, an antioxidant principle from Curcuma longa Linn., on blood mononuclear cells from rabbits given ethanol for 30 days and ethanol with curcumin, cells were isolated and an attachment assay was carried out. The monocytes from ethanol-treated rabbits showed a lesser attachment to collagen, the major component of the vessel wall subendothelium, and those from curcumin treated animals along with ethanol showed a higher affinity to collagen, causing an alteration in the attachment of monocyte to collagen due to ethanol-induced stress.

Animals↗

Curcumin and genistein, plant natural products, show synergistic inhibitory effects on the growth of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells induced by estrogenic pesticides.

Curcumin and genistein are two natural products of plants obtained from Curcuma longa Linn (turmeric) and soybeans, respectively. Both compounds when present at micromolar concentrations are able to inhibit the growth of estrogen-positive human breast MCF-7 cells induced individually or by a mixture of the pesticides endosulfane, DDT and chlordane or 17-beta estradiol. When curcumin and genistein were added together to MCF-7 cells, a synergistic effect resulting in a total inhibition of the induction of MCF-7 cells by the highly estrogenic activity of endosulfane/chlordane/DDT mixtures was noted. These data suggest that the combination of curcumin and genistein in the diet have the potential to reduce the proliferation of estrogen-positive cells by mixtures of pesticides or 17-beta estradiol. Since it is difficult to remove pesticides completely from the environment or the diet and since both turmeric and soybeans are not toxic to humans, their inclusion in the diet in order to prevent hormone related cancers deserves consideration.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗

Dietary curcumin with cisplatin administration modulates tumour marker indices in experimental fibrosarcoma.

Curcumin, the active constituent of Curcuma longa, which itself possesses antitumour activity against experimental tumours, enhances the antitumour effect of the widely used anticancer drug cisplatin, when used in combination against fibrosarcoma. Tumour marker enzymes such as aminotransferases, lactate dehydrogenase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, alkaline phosphatase, 5'-nucleotidase were analysed in liver and kidney homogenates of experimental rats. All these enzyme activities were markedly increased in tumour bearing animals. On cisplatin administration, the enzyme levels were decreased but not to near normal values. Curcumin, when treated along with cisplatin brought back the enzyme levels to near the control values. Thus curcumin and cisplatin combination may be worth trying against tumours like fibrosarcoma.

Analysis of Variance↗

Curcumin inhibits nitrogen dioxide induced oxidation of hemoglobin.

Curcumin protects hemoglobin from nitrogen dioxide induced oxidation. Curcumin was also found to scavenge nitrogen dioxide in a concentration dependent way. The study also explains the ability of curcumin to protect hemoglobin from nitrite induced oxidation, where nitrogen dioxide is a key intermediate.

Curcumin↗

Inhibitory effect of curcumin on fatty acid desaturation in Mortierella alpina 1S-4 and rat liver microsomes.

An extract of rhizomes of Curcuma longta L. (turmeric) inhibited the desaturation of dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA) in the arachidonic acid (AA) producing fungus Mortierella alpina 1S-4. The factor responsible for this phenomenon was isolated and identified as curcumin (diferuloyl methane). Mycelial DGLA levels increased about two-fold (22.3 mg/g dry weight) with a concomitant decrease in AA levels when the fungus was cultivated with curcumin. The 50% inhibitory concentration against delta 5 desaturase was 27.2 microM. Curcumin also inhibited rat liver microsomal delta 5 and delta 6 desaturases.

8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid↗

The antioxidants curcumin and quercetin inhibit inflammatory processes associated with arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Curcumin and quercetin are antioxidant molecules with anti-proliferative, anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive activities. The objective of this study was to investigate the inhibitory activity of these agents using four assays of inflammatory aspects of arthritis. METHODS: Crystal-induced neutrophil activation was measured by luminol-dependent chemiluminescence. Synoviocyte proliferation was measured by an MTS assay using HIG-82 rabbit synoviocytes in cell culture. Chondrocyte (cultured primary cells) expression of the matrix metalloproteinases collagenase and stromelysin was measured by Northern Blot analysis. Angiogenesis was measured using the chorioallantoic membrane of the chick embryo. RESULTS: Both agents inhibited neutrophil activation, synoviocyte proliferation and angiogenesis. Curcumin strongly inhibited collagenase and stromelysin expression at micromolar concentrations whereas quercetin had no effect in this assay. CONCLUSION: These studies suggest that curcumin and to a lesser extent quercetin may offer therapeutic potential for the treatment of crystal-induced arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.

Animals↗

P-glycoprotein expression does not change the apoptotic pathway induced by curcumin in HL-60 cells.

PURPOSE: One of the mechanisms responsible for the multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype of cancer cells is overexpression of so-called ATP-dependent drug efflux proteins: the 170-kDa P-glycoprotein (P-gp) encoded by the MDR1 gene and the 190-kDa multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 encoded by the MRP1 gene. The purpose of the present study was to verify the hypothesis postulating that P-gp expression, apart from enabling drug efflux, confers on the cells resistance to apoptosis by inhibiting caspase-8 and caspase-3. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human HL-60 cells, either drug-sensitive or with the MDR phenotype caused by overexpression of P-gp (HL-60/Vinc) or MRP1 (HL-60/Adr), were treated with the natural dye curcumin at 50 micro M or with UVC to induce apoptosis. Symptoms of cell death were assessed by morphological observation after Hoechst staining, DNA fragmentation was measured by flow cytometry and the TUNEL method, and caspase-8 and caspase-3 activation and cytochrome c release from mitochondria were measured by Western blotting. RESULTS: Curcumin induced cell death in HL-60 cells, both sensitive and with the MDR phenotype, which could be classified as caspase-3-dependent apoptosis, together with cytochrome c release, activation of caspase-3 and oligonucleosomal DNA fragmentation. No active caspase-8 was detected. Also UVC caused caspase-3 activation in both the sensitive and the MDR HL-60 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that there was no correlation between P-gp expression and resistance to caspase-3-dependent apoptosis induced by curcumin and UVC, at least in HL-60 cells. However, we cannot exclude the possibility of parallel P-gp expression and caspase-3 inhibition in some other cell lines, as cancer cells can acquire many different apoptosis-resistance mechanisms.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Curcumin overcomes the inhibitory effect of nitric oxide on Leishmania.

Upon Leishmania infection, macrophages are activated to produce nitrogen and oxygen radicals simultaneously. It is well established that the infected host cells rely on nitric oxide (NO) as the major weapon against the intracellular parasite. In India where leishmaniasis is endemic, the spice turmeric is used prolifically in food and for insect bites. Curcumin, the active principle of turmeric, is a scavenger of NO. This report shows that curcumin protects promastigotes and amastigotes of the visceral species, Leishmania donovani, and promastigotes of the cutaneous species, L. major, against the actions of S-nitroso-N-acetyl-D,L-penicillamine (SNAP) and DETANONOate, which release NO, 3-morpholino-sydnonimine hydrochloride (SIN-1), which releases NO and superoxide, and peroxynitrite, which is formed from the reaction of NO with superoxide. Thus, curcumin, as an antioxidant, is capable of blocking the action of both NO and NO congeners on the Leishmania parasite.

Animals↗

Neuroprotective and anti-ageing effects of curcumin in aged rat brain regions.

This study investigated the influence of chronically administered curcumin on normal ageing-related parameters: lipid peroxidation, lipofuscin concentration and intraneuronal lipofuscin accumulation, activities of the enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and Na(+), K(+), -adenosine triphosphatase (Na(+), K(+), -ATPase) in different brain regions (cerebral cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum and medulla) of 6- and 24-month-old rats. In normal ageing, lipid peroxidation and lipofuscin concentration were found to increase with ageing, the activities of SOD, GPx and Na(+), K(+), -ATPase, however, decreased with ageing. Chronic curcumin treatment of both 6 and 24 months old rats resulted in significant decreases in lipid peroxide and the lipofuscin contents in brain regions, the activities of SOD, GPx and Na(+), K(+), -ATPase however, showed significant increase in various brain regions. The present study, thus, demonstrated the antioxidative, antilipofusinogenesic and anti-ageing effects of curcumin in the brain.

Aging↗

Inhibition of radiation induced nitration by curcumin and nicotinamide in mouse macrophages.

Nitric oxide plays an important role in inflammation and carcinogenesis and has now been implicated as an important signaling molecule under normal physiological conditions also. Increased nitric oxide (NO) results in increased nitration of proteins at tyrosine, which can cause protein dysfunction or alterations in signal transduction pathways. Irradiation of Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activated mouse peritoneal macrophages was found to increase NO production, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression and nitration of proteins. The increase in iNOS expression was very less when compared to increase in NO production, indicating the possibility of post-translational activation of iNOS by LPS and ionising radiation. The addition of curcumin, nicotinamide and Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor, SP 600125, reduced the levels of NO, iNOS expression and nitration of proteins in macrophages. Closer scrutiny of the inhibition pattern of these modulators revealed that although the JNK inhibitor did not result in significant decrease in iNOS expression it led to a significant decrease in NO production, implying the possible involvement of JNK in the regulation of iNOS activity. Curcumin and JNK inhibitor directly inhibited the nitration of proteins and JNK inhibitor and curcumin, when added together, did not show synergistic effect.

Animals↗