International Journal of Molecular Medicine 2002-05-01

Selective induction of apoptosis by ar-turmerone isolated from turmeric (Curcuma longa L) in two human leukemia cell lines, but not in human stomach cancer cell line.

Yue Aratanechemuge, Takashi Komiya, Hiroyuki Moteki, Hirotaka Katsuzaki, Kunio Imai, Hiroshige Hibasami

Index: Int. J. Mol. Med. 9(5) , 481-4, (2002)

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Abstract

We have investigated the effects of ar-turmerone isolated from turmeric (Curcuma longa L) on DNA of human leukemia cell lines, Molt 4B, HL-60 and stomach cancer KATO III cells. It was found that selective induction of apoptosis by ar-turmerone was observed in human leukemia Molt 4B and HL-60 cells, but not in human stomach cancer KATO III cells. Morphological changes showing apoptotic bodies were observed in the human HL-60 and Molt 4B cells treated with ar-turmerone. The fragmentation of DNA by ar-turmerone to oligonucleosomal-sized fragments that is a characteristic of apoptosis was observed to be concentration- and time-dependent in Molt 4B and HL-60 cells, but not in KATO III cells. The data of the present study show that the suppression by ar-turmerone of growth of these leukemia cell lines results from the induction of apoptosis by this compound.