The effects of curcumin on cellular cycle of pancreatic carcinoma cells in vitro

Objective To investigate the effects of curcumin on the growth of human panceatic carcinoma cell (PANC-1) and the cell cycle change in vitro. Methods Activity of tumor cell was determined by MTT and cell cycle phase was analysised by flow cytometry. Results MTT test showed that curcumin was cytotoxic to cells. The proliferative inhibition rate of 30μM and 60μM of curcumin were 45.9 % and 78.1 % , respectively. 10μM of curcumin were less effective. Cellular morphology with HE stainning showed that the ratio of cells at mitosis phase was increased 24 hours after treatment with curcumin, The rates of mitosis of cells were up to 8-10%. FCM showed that PANC-1 cells treated with curcumin were accumulated at S, G2/M phase in the cell cycle, the rate of cells at G0/1 phase was decreased 24 hours after treatment with curcumin. The ratio of cells in G2/M phase was decreased which might be in part due to apoptosis of cells at G2/M phase.48 hours after treatment with curcumin. Conclusions Curcumin cand inhibit the growth of PANC -1 cells in vitro and its mechanisms of action was inferred to arrest the cellular cycle at S and G2/M phase , which prevented cells from entering the next cell cycle.