Zerumbone induces apoptosis in T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells.
Zerumbone (ZER) is a potential anticancer natural compound, isolated from Zingiber zerumbet Smith. In this investigation, the anticancer properties of ZER were evaluated on cancer cells of T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia, CEM-ss. The results showed that ZER has cytotoxic effect against CEM-ss cells with an IC(50) of 8.4 ± 1.9 μg/ml (coefficient of variation < 30%). Comparatively, 5-fluorouracil (positive control), imposed an inhibitory effect on CEM-ss cells with an IC(50) of 1.94 ± 0.06 μg/ml. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results revealed abnormalities such as membrane blebbing, holes and cytoplasmic extrusions, all of which are characteristics of apoptosis. In addition, ZER has increased the number of TUNEL-positive stain and the cellular level of caspase-3, the hallmarks of apoptosis, on treated CEM-ss cells. It could be concluded that, ZER was able to produce apoptosis on T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia, CEM-ss. The current findings suggest that ZER might be helpful for improving the usefulness of anticancer agents in the therapy of leukemia.
Abdelwahab
Siddig Ibrahim
SI
UPM-MAKNA Cancer Research Laboratory, Institute of Bioscience, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Malaysia. siddigroa@yahoo.com
Abdul
Ahmad Bustamam
AB
Mohan
Syam
S
Taha
Manal Mohamed Elhassan
MM
Syam
Suvitha
S
Ibrahim
Mohamed Yousif
MY
Mariod
Abdelbasit Adam
AA
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D054218:Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000473:pathology*; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C403304:zerumbone