CURCUMIN INDUCED CELL DEATH AND INHIBITION OF TELOMERASE ACTIVITY IN MOUSE LYMPHOMA P388D1 CELLS

Telomerase, a potential marker for tumorigenesis, has been found to be activated in more than 85-90% of human cancer. Curcumin is the major biologically active, yellow phytochemical compound of Curcuma longa ( Zingiberaceae). The present study is aimed to investigate the capacity of curcumin on the regulation of telomerase activity and induction of apoptosis in P388D1 mouse lymphoma cells. Here, we demonstrate that curcumin at a concentration of 3.5 mu M and an incubation period of 48h induces apoptosis and inhibits telomerase activity in the P388D1 cells. Curcumin induced apoptosis and telomerase activity in P388D1 lymphoma cells was confirmed by enumeration of apoptotic cells, % DNA fragmentation and RT-PCR. The culture supernatant of lymphoma cells treated with curcumin showed a higher level of nitric oxide content. RT-PCR analysis revealed over expression of TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta and inhibition of the antiapoptotic Bcl-2 and human catalytic subunit hTERT in the curcumin treated lymphoma cells as compared to untreated cells. Taken together the result shows that curcumin could significantly inhibit tumor proliferation and induce apoptosis in lymphoma cells. Thus, curcumin should be further tested as a possible antineoplastic agent.