Skip to main content

Inhibitory effect of an extract of Curcuma zedoariae on human cervical carcinoma cells

Medicinal Chemistry Research volume 17, pages 335–344 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Herbal medicine has formed the basis of health care throughout the world since the dawn of civilization. Each plant is a unique chemical factory capable of synthesizing unlimited numbers of highly complex and unusual chemical substances whose structures could otherwise escape the imagination forever. Phytomedicines have been used as a treatment for many diseases, ranging from skin disease to cancer. Most of the anticancer drugs that we use today are derived from plants. The anticancer effect of plants is due to specific phytochemicals or the complex synergistic interactions among their various constituents. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the cytotoxic properties of an extract of the Curucuma zedoariae rhizome, a plant belonging to the family Zingeberaceae, and to determine its IC50 value. Various organic extracts were isolated using Soxhlet apparatus in order of increasing solvent polarity, namely petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, acetone, and methanol. Colorimetric [3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay (MTT assay) was done to determine the cytotoxicity against human cervical carcinoma cells (He La). Acridine orange–ethidium dromide dual staining and DNA fragmentation assays were done to detect apoptotic features. Among the various extracts studied, the petroleum ether extract was found to exhibit maximum cytotoxicity against He La cells. Our results suggest that the petroleum ether extract of the Curucuma zedoariae rhizome may have potential as an anticancer agent. Further steps have to be done to purify the compound and to elucidate the antitumor activity of the extract.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

References

  • Anto RJ, Maliekal TT, Karunagaran DL (2000) 929 cells harbouring ectopically expressed Rel A resist curcumin induced apoptosis. J Biol Chem 275:15601–15604

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen JJ (1991) Programmed cell death in the immune system. Adv Immunol 50:55–85

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dahanukar SA, Thatte UM (1997) Current status of Ayurveda in phytomedicine. Phytomedicine 4:359–368

    Google Scholar 

  • Gupta SK, Banerjee AB, Achari B (1976). Isolation of ethyl-P-methoxy cinnamate, the major antifungal principle of Curcuma zedoariae. Lloydia 39:218–222

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jang MK, Sohn DH, Ryu JH (2001). A curcuminoid and sesquiterpenes as inhibitors of macrophage TNF- α release from Curcuma zedoariae. Planta medica 67:550–552

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kirsh Volders M, Elhajouji A, Cundari E, Van Hummelen P (1997) The in vitro micronuclear test: A multi-endpoint assay to detect simultaneously mitotic delay, apoptosis, chromosome breakage and non-disjunction. Mutat Res 436:69–97

    Google Scholar 

  • Lai EY, Chyau CC, Mau JL, Chen CC, Lai YJ, Shih CF, Lin LL (2004) Antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity of the essential oil of Curcuma zedoariae. Am J Chin Med 32:281–290

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lien EJ, Wy Li (1985). Advances in Chinese medical materials research. 433–452

  • Radford IR, Murphy TK, Radley JM, Ellis SL (1994) Radiation response of mouse lymphoid and myeloid cell lines Part 2. Int J Radiat Biol 65(2):217–227

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rana AC, Avadhoot Y (1992) .Experimental evaluation of hepatoprotective activity of Gymnema sylvestre and Curcuma zedoariae. Fitoterapia 63:60–67. Scientific publishing 433–452

    Google Scholar 

  • Scudiero DA, Shoemaker RH, Paull KD, Monks A, Tierney S, Nofziger H, Currens MJ, Seniff D, Boyd MR (1988) Evaluation of a soluble tetrazolium formasan assay for cell growth and drug sensitivity in culture using human and other tumour cell lines. Cancer Res 48:4827–4833

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Singhal MK (2004) Jungles: Rich source of medicinal plants. Natural Product Radiance 3:203

  • Suffness M, Pezzuto JM (1991) Assays related to cancer Drug discovery In: Hostettman K (Ed) Methods in Plant Biochemistry Assays for bioactivity, Academic, London, New York. 6:71–133

  • Syu WJ, Shen CC, Don MJ, Ou JC, Lee GH, Sun CM (1998) Cytotoxicity of curcuminoids and some novel compounds from Curcuma zedoariae. J Nat Prod 61:1531–1534

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Watanabe KM, Shibata M, Yano S, Cai Y, Shibuya H, Kitagawa I (1986) Antiulcer activity of extracts and isolated compounds From Zedoariae (Gajutsu) cultivated in Yakushima (Japan). Yakugaku zasshi 106:1137–1142

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The first author, Lakshmi. S, would like to thank the Regional Cancer Centre, the Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, and the Regional Research Laboratory for the facilities to carry out the work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Cancer Research, Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, 695011, Kerala

    S. Lakshmi, G. S. Dhanya & P. Remani

  2. Regional Research Laboratory, Thiruvananthapuram, 695019, Kerala

    Beena Joy

  3. Division of Crop Utilization and Biotechnology, Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Sreekaryam, Thiruvananthapuram, 695017, Kerala

    G. Padmaja

Authors
  1. S. Lakshmi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. G. S. Dhanya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Beena Joy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. G. Padmaja
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. P. Remani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. Lakshmi.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lakshmi, S., Dhanya, G.S., Joy, B. et al. Inhibitory effect of an extract of Curcuma zedoariae on human cervical carcinoma cells. Med Chem Res 17, 335–344 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00044-007-9069-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00044-007-9069-9

Keywords

  • Curcuma zedoariae
  • Cervical cancer
  • Apoptosis
  • Medicinal plants
  • Anticancer
  • Cytotoxicity