title: Synergistic anticancer activity of curcumin and catechin: an in vitro study using human cancer cell lines.
abstract: The most practical approach to reduce morbidity and mortality of cancer is to delay the process of carcinogenesis by usage of anticancer agents. This necessitates that safer compounds are to be critically examined for anticancer activity especially, those derived from natural sources. A spice commonly found in India and the surrounding regions, is turmeric, derived from the rhizome of Curcuma longa and the major active component is a phytochemical termed curcumin. Green tea is one of the most popular beverages used worldwide, produced from the leaves of evergreen plant Camellia sinensis and the major active ingredients are polyphenolic compounds known as catechins. In this study, synergistic anticancer activity of curcumin and catechin was evaluated in human colon adenocarcinoma HCT 15, HCT 116, and human larynx carcinoma Hep G-2 cell lines. Although, both curcumin or catechin inhibited the growth of above cell lines, interestingly, in combination of both these compounds highest level of growth control was observed. The anticancer activity shown is due to cytotoxicity, nuclear fragmentation as well as condensation, and DNA fragmentation associated with the appearance of apoptosis. These results suggest that curcumin and catechin in combination can inhibit the proliferation of HCT 15, HCT 116, as well as Hep G-2 cells efficiently through induction of apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Health and Management, Alagappa University, Karaikudi-630 003, Tamil Nadu, India. manizoo_78@rediffmail.com
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Manikandan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beulaja
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arulvasu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sellamuthu
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dinesh
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Prabhu
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Babu
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vaseeharan
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Prabhu
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis; D002392:Catechin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D004357:Drug Synergism; D045325:HCT116 Cells; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D002392:Catechin; D003474:Curcumin