Effects of turmeric and its active principle, curcumin, on bleomycin-induced chromosome aberrations in Chinese hamster ovary cells

Abstract

Cell culture and treatmentsChinese hamster ovary cells (CHO-9 cell line) were kindly supplied by Prof. A.T. Natarajan (University of Leiden, The Netherlands). Cells were maintained as monolayers growing at 37°C in 25-cm 2 flasks (Corning) containing HAM-F10 (Sigma) plus DMEM (Dulbecco's modi- ABSTRACT Naturally occurring antioxidants have been extensively studied for their capacity to protect organisms and cells from oxidative damage. Many plant constituents including turmeric and curcumin appear to be potent antimutagens and antioxidants. The effects of turmeric and curcumin on chromosomal aberration frequencies induced by the radiomimetic agent bleomycin (BLM) were investigated in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Three concentrations of each drug, turmeric (100, 250 and 500 µg/ ml) and curcumin (2.5, 5 and 10 µg/ml), were combined with BLM (10 µg/ml) in CHO cells treated during the G 1 /S, S or G 2 /S phases of the cell cycle. Neither turmeric nor curcumin prevented BLM-induced chromosomal damage in any phases of the cell cycle. Conversely, a potentiation of the clastogenicity of BLM by curcumin was clearly observed in cells treated during the S and G 2 /S phases. Curcumin was also clastogenic by itself at 10 µg/ml in two protocols used. However, the exact mechanism by which curcumin produced clastogenic and potentiating effects remains unknown.

Protective effect of thiourea, a hydroxyl-radical scavenger, on curcumin-induced chromosomal aberrations in an in vitro mammalian cell system

“…As expected from our previous studies [9][10][11], these results described here clearly demonstrate that curcumin can act as a clastogenic agent strongly inducing chromo-somal damage in CHO cells when present in culture for a time equal or up to 9 h. These clastogenic and cytotoxic properties of curcumin have been reported by others [16,17]. Mukhopadhyay et al [18] also showed that this dietary antioxidant was weakly clastogenic in bone marrow cells of acutely treated mice.…”

“…However, a statistically significant decrease (P<0.05) in mitotic indices was observed when curcumin at 15 µg/ml was associated with 20 µg/ml of thiourea (Table II). We observed that curcumin is strongly cytotoxic at concentrations up to 20 µg/ml [9,10]. The mitotic indices observed in CHO cells treated with thiourea alone were not statistically different from those found in untreated controls (Table II).…”

“…[9][10][11]. Curcumin induced a significant increase in the frequency of chromosomal aberrations in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, as well as a potentiation in the antitumor drugs bleomycin-and doxorubicin-, and γ-radiationinduced chromosomal aberrations in CHO cells under in vitro conditions.…”

Curcumin as a DNA Topoisomerase II Poison

“…First, topoisomerase IImediated DNA damage can initiate apoptosis and many reports have shown the ability of curcumin to induce apoptosis. Second, curcumin is an intercalating agent with unknown clastogenic mechanism, 32,33 and clastogenicity can arise as a result of topo II poisoning via non-covalent chemical intercalation into DNA. In this way, the topo II poisons etoposide and doxorubicin are clastogenic agents.…”

Evaluation of the genotoxic potential of Austroplenckia populnea (Reiss) Lundell chloroform fraction from barkwood extract in rodent cells in vivo

“…There is considerable interest in determining the risks that plant extracts may pose to health, since many of these extracts contain compounds known to cause diseases or even death to animals and humans by acting as natural mutagens and carcinogens (Araújo et al, 1999;Burim et al, 1999;Chacon et al, 2002;Espósito et al, 2005.…”