title: Chemotherapeutic potential of curcumin-bearing microcells against hepatocellular carcinoma in model animals.
abstract: Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is found in large quantities in the roots of Curcuma longa. It possesses strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and inhibits chemically-induced carcinogenesis in the skin, forestomach, colon, and liver. Unfortunately, the poor bioavailability and hydrophobicity of curcumin pose a major hurdle to its use as a potent anticancer agent. To circumvent some of these problems, we developed a novel, dual-core microcell formulation of curcumin. The encapsulation of curcumin in microcells increases its solubility and bioavailability, and facilitates slow release kinetics over extended periods. Besides being safe, these formulations do not bear any toxicity constraints, as revealed by in vitro and in vivo studies. Histopathological analysis revealed that curcumin-bearing microcells helped in regression of hepatocellular carcinoma and the maintenance of cellular architecture in liver tissue. Free curcumin had a very mild effect on cancer suppression. Empty (sham) microcells and microparticles failed to inhibit cancer cells. The novel curcumin formulation was found to suppress hepatocellular carcinoma efficiently in Swiss albino mice.
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farazuddin
authors.affiliation: Immunology Division, National JALMA Institute for Leprosy and Other Mycobacterial Diseases (NJIL), Agra, India.
authors.forename: Bhavyata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dua
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India.
authors.forename: Qamar
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zia
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India.
authors.forename: Aijaz Ahmad
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Immunology Division, National JALMA Institute for Leprosy and Other Mycobacterial Diseases (NJIL), Agra, India.
authors.forename: Beenu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Joshi
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Owais
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity; D001682:Biological Availability; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003474:Curcumin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity; D004339:Drug Compounding / Q000379:methods; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005260:Female; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D050997:Nanomedicine; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D008517:Phytotherapy; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; D003474:Curcumin
keywords: Curcuma longa; cancer; carcinogenesis; diferuloylmethane; microparticle; nanocells