title: Curcumin and Turmeric Modulate the Tumor-Promoting Effects of Iron In Vitro.
abstract: Free or loosely chelated iron has tumor-promoting properties in vitro. Curcumin, a polyphenol derived from the food spice turmeric (Curcuma longa), is a potent antioxidant that binds iron. The primary aim of this study was to investigate whether curcuminoids prevent tumor-promoting effects of iron in T51B cells, a non-neoplastic rat liver epithelial cell line. Purified curcuminoids (curcumin) or a standardized turmeric extract similarly reduced oxidative stress and cytotoxicity associated with iron overload (IC50values near 10 μM, P < 0.05). Inhibition of iron-induced tumor promotion (seen upon treatment with 200 μM ferric ammonium citrate ± curcumin/turmeric for 16 wk in culture; subsequently assayed by soft agar colony formation) was nearly complete at 20 μM of total curcuminoids (P < 0.05), a concentration predicted to only partially chelate the added iron. Surprisingly, lower curcumin concentrations (10 μM) increased tumor promotion (P < 0.01). Curcuminoids delivered as a standardized turmeric extract were taken up better by cells, had a longer half-life, and appeared more effective in blocking tumor promotion (P < 0.01), suggesting enhanced curcuminoid delivery to cells in culture. The primary finding that curcuminoids can inhibit tumor promotion caused by iron in T51B cells is tempered by evidence for an underlying increase in neoplastic transformation at lower concentrations.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Basic Sciences , Bastyr University , Kenmore , Washington , USA.
authors.forename: Donald J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Messner
authors.affiliation: a Department of Basic Sciences , Bastyr University , Kenmore , Washington , USA.
authors.forename: Todd
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.affiliation: b Organ Care Research and Liver Care Network , Swedish Medical Center , Seattle , Washington , USA.
authors.forename: Kris V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Kowdley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D030024:Curcuma / Q000737:chemistry*; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D002273:Carcinogens; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; C012596:turmeric extract; D007501:Iron; D003474:Curcumin; C013531:ferric ammonium citrate