Abstract
The phytochemical curcumin, from the Indian spice turmeric, has many biological properties, including anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic activities. We examined the effects of curcumin on the rat C6 glioma cell line. Treated and control cells were analyzed by Hoechst 33342 dye and flow cytometry. Dye exclusion exhibited by cells indicates their activity of drug efflux capacity, a stem cell characteristic, and they are designated as side population (SP), away from the main population of cells that retain the Hoechst dye. With the C6 cells, we observed a decrease in SP after daily treatment of curcumin. Since SP has been associated with stem cell population and C6 glioma is brain tumor derived cell line, curcumin may be active against brain cancer stem cells (CSCs). Isolation and characterization of CSCs, as well as therapeutic potentials of phytochemicals targeting CSCs, are discussed.
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Acknowledgments
We thank Aimee Parian for her help with the manuscript. The writing of this chapter was supported, in part, by an award from the American Institute for Cancer Research to Marion Chan.
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Fong, D., Chan, M.M. (2012). Targeting Cancer Stem Cells with Phytochemicals: Inhibition of the Rat C6 Glioma Side Population by Curcumin. In: Hayat, M. (eds) Stem Cells and Cancer Stem Cells, Volume 1. Stem Cells and Cancer Stem Cells, vol 1. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-1709-1_7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-1709-1_7
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