title: Alcoholic turmeric extract simultaneously activating murine lymphocytes and inducing apoptosis of Ehlrich ascitic carcinoma cells.
abstract: In the present investigation ethanolic turmeric extract has been found to play diabolically opposite role on murine lymphocytes and on Ehlrich ascitic carcinoma cells. Turmeric stimulates the lymphocytes into the effector pathway as studied through in vitro viability, blastogenesis and (3)H-TdR incorporation and also seems to be healthy under scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM revealed the formation of cytoplasmic blebs and plasma membrane disintegration of tumor cells with ethanolic turmeric extract treatment, suggesting turmeric to be initiating apoptosis of tumor cells. Thus, in the present work viability of the cells, blastogenesis, DNA synthesis and SEM study establish the fact that turmeric is a conducive agent for lymphocytes and inhibitory as well as apoptotic for tumor cells.
authors: Immunology & Cell Biology Laboratory, Centre for Life Sciences, North Bengal University, Siliguri - 734430, West Bengal, India. prof_ashim_chakravarty@rediffmail.com
authors: Ashim Kumar
authors: AK
authors: Chakravarty
authors: Hadida
authors: H
authors: Yasmin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D030024:Curcuma; D000431:Ethanol; D005260:Female; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000431:Ethanol; C012596:turmeric extract