Curcumin Inhibits cell proliferation by interfering cell cycle and inducing apoptosis in human colon carcinoma cell line

Objective It has been reported that curcumin(diferuloylmethane) could inhibit growth of several malignant cells both in vitro and in vivo.However,the mechanism of action is unknown.In this study,we investigated the inhibitory effects of curcumin on human colon carcinoma cell(Lovo) proliferation and its mechanism of action in vitro.Methods The effects of curcumin on Lovo cell growth was by means of growth assay,colony formation assay and MTT assay,cell cycle analysis was by means of flow cytometer(FCM) and apoptosis analysis was by means of acridine-orange staining,electron microscopy and DNA agarose gel electrophoresis.Results Curcumin inhibited cell growth in vitro in a dose-dependent manner.The ability of colony formation of Lovo cells treated with curcumin was depressed.MTT test showed that curcumin was cytotoxic to cells.FCM showed that Lovo cells treated with curcumin were largely accumulated in S,G2/M phase which prevented cells from entering the next cell cycle.The characteristic morphological changes of apoptotic cell induced by curcumin was confirmed by acridine-orange staining and electron microscopy,the characteristic DNA ladders induced by curcumin was confirmed by DNA agarose gel electrophoresis.Conclusion Curcumin can inhibit Lovo cells proliferation and the cellular mechanism responsible for the action is to arrest the cell cycle in S,G2/M phase and to induce the apoptotic cell death.