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Cellular uptake and apoptotic properties of gemini curcumin in gastric cancer cells

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Abstract

Introduction

Curcumin is a polyphenolic natural compound, which has demonstrated to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects in vitro & in vivo. However, its applicability in cancer therapy has been limited due to its poor cellular uptake. Here, we aimed to evaluate the anticancer effect of novel gemini curcumin (Gemini-Cur) on the gastric cancer AGS cells.

Method

The AGS cancerous and HFF-2 non-cancerous cells were treated with Gemini-Cur and curcumin (Cur) in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Cellular toxicity was studied using MTT, fluorescence microscopy, annexin V/FITC, and cell cycle assays. Additionally, real-time PCR and western blotting were employed to evaluate the expression of Bax, Bcl-2 and survivin genes.

Results

Our data indicated that Gemini-Cur is significantly taken into AGS cells compared to Cur. Moreover, the viability of Gemini-Cur treated cells was significantly reduced in a time- and dose-dependent manner (p < 0.001). Gemini-Cur compound induced G2/M cell cycle arrest that was followed by apoptosis in a time-dependent manner (p < 0.0001).

Discussion

Taken together, our findings support the idea that Gemini-Cur has the potential to be considered as an anticancer agent.

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Data Availability

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank staff of molecular biology and genomics lab at University of Tabriz.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Biology, School of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, 51555, Tabriz, Iran

    Ali Emami, Esmaeil Babaei, Hewa Jalal Azeez, Mohammad Ali Hosseinpour Feizi & Ashraf Golizadeh

  2. Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, Hawler Medical University, Kurdistan Region, Erbil, Iraq

    Alaadin Nagishbandi

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  1. Ali Emami
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  4. Hewa Jalal Azeez
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Contributions

AE performed the experiments, analyzed data and co-wrote manuscript. EB conceived of the idea, supervised the research and co-wrote the paper. HJA analyzed the data and co-wrote the paper. MAH and AG advised expression studies. All authors discussed the results and contributed to the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Esmaeil Babaei.

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Emami, A., Babaei, E., Nagishbandi, A. et al. Cellular uptake and apoptotic properties of gemini curcumin in gastric cancer cells. Mol Biol Rep 48, 7215–7222 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-021-06713-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-021-06713-2

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