title: Activation of apoptotic protein in U937 cells by a component of turmeric oil.
abstract: Aromatic (ar)-turmerone from turmeric oil displays anti-tumorigenesis activity that includes inhibited cell proliferation. This study investigated ar-turmerone-mediated apoptotic protein activation in human lymphoma U937 cells. Ar-turmerone treatment inhibited U937 cell viability in a concentration-dependent fashion, with inhibition exceeding 84%. Moreover, the treatment produced nucleosomal DNA fragmentation and the percentage of sub-diploid cells increased in a concentration-dependent manner; both are hallmarks of apoptosis. The apoptotic effect of ar-turmerone was associated with the induction of Bax and p53 proteins, rather than Bcl-2 and p21. Activation of mitochondrial cytochrome c and caspase-3 demonstrated that the activation of caspases accompanied the apoptotic effect of ar-turmerone, which mediated cell death. These results suggest that the apoptotic effect of ar-turmerone on U937 cells may involve caspase-3 activation through the induction of Bax and p53, rather than Bcl-2 and p21.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Biotechnology, Dongseo University, Busan 617-716, Korea. lyk@dongseo.ac.kr
authors.forename: Yongkyu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D030024:Curcuma / Q000737:chemistry*; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006801:Humans; D007659:Ketones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D014050:Toluene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D020298:U937 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D007659:Ketones; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010938:Plant Oils; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; C078098:ar-turmerone; D014050:Toluene; C012596:turmeric extract; D045304:Cytochromes c; D053148:Caspase 3