Curcumin and quercetin synergistically inhibit cancer cell proliferation in multiple cancer cells and modulate Wnt/β-catenin signaling and apoptotic pathways in A375 cells.

Publication/Presentation Date

1-1-2019

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Traditional therapy using natural products, especially flavonoids and alkaloids have been in practice for a long time. Among flavonoids, curcumin, quercetin, berberine, and epigallocatechin have been studied in greater detail in terms of their anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities. Although many studies focused on the PI3K, MAP kinase and NF-κB pathways, a thorough investigation of modulation of players in the apoptotic and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway by curcumin and quercetin has not been done. Also, only few studies have been carried out on curcumin and quercetin co-treatment studies.

HYPOTHESIS/PURPOSE: We hypothesized that the combination of natural products will have synergistic effects and the antiproliferative effect will be attenuated via apoptotic as well as Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: To test our hypothesis, we compared potency of natural anticancer agents in four cancer cell lines, A549, HCT116, MCF7, and A375 by MTT and colony proliferation assays and investigated mechanism of anticancer activities by analyzing players in apoptotic and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways in A375 cells treated with test agents individually or in combination.

RESULTS: Epicatechins, up to 100 μM concentration, did not inhibit cancer cell proliferation, while curcumin inhibited proliferation in A549 and HCT116 cancer cell lines with an IC

CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that curcumin and quercetin inhibit cancer cell proliferation synergistically and Wnt/β-catenin signaling and apoptotic pathways are partly responsible for antiproliferative activities.

Volume

52

First Page

117

Last Page

128

ISSN

1618-095X

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

PubMedID

30599890

Department(s)

Patient Care Services / Nursing

Document Type

Article

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