Curcuma Longa L. Extract Controls Cancer Cell (Sarcoma 180) Growth

Objectives : The anticancer response of three different types of water extracts of Zingiberaceae Curcuma longa L. tested for sarcoma 180. Only few studies carried out to investigate the effects of other contents of Curcuma longa L. in anticancer activities, therefore, in this study we have investigated the effects of other component then curcumin in Curcuma longa L. for anticancer a activities. Methods : Three different types of water extracts of Curcuma longa L. were prepared as follows. The sarcoma cells (S180) were maintained in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) and were seeded on 24-well cell culture cluster flat bottom with lid tissue culture treated non-pyrogenic polystyrene. The growth of sarcoma 180 was monitored for 1, 2 and 5 days. The sarcoma cells were pictured using inverted microscope and cell density was counted using hemocytometry. Results : After 5 days in the culture medium the results showed high growth of sarcoma 180 for control condition and the surface of CCP plates were fully covered with the cells. In case of medium in which the 10% of filtered water extract of Curcuma longa L. was added a very limited growth of sarcoma 180 was observed. The results were showed only small difference in cell density for two different concentrations of unfiltered water extracts of Curcuma longa L. whereasin case of filtered water extracts the control of sarcoma growth shows better result. Conclusion : The filtered water extracts showed the best result relatively to the unfiltered water extracts for two different concentrations. This indicates that the water extracts of Curcuma longa L. can have anticancer activities possibly without curcumin.