CURCUMIN HAS LOWER IC50 VALUES AGAINST A549 LUNG CANCER CELLS

Abstract In this study, we aimed to determine the toxic effect of curcumin on A549 lung cancer cells and to show how this effect is reflected in morphology. Firstly, the toxic doses of curcumin against A549 lung cancer cells were determined via MTT and neutral red cytotoxicity tests by using the doses of 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, 100, 200 and 400 µM. The morphological examination was performed using inverted microscope and light microscope with hematoxylin-eosin eosin.As a result, the IC50 dose of curcumin against A549 cells was 33 µM according to MTT cytotoxicity test and 52 µM according to the neutral red cytotoxicity test. When these doses were administered, the rounded and shrunken cells were visible in the inverted microscope, while apoptotic hallmarks such as nucleus condensation, renal nucleus structure and cellular shrinkage were detected in hematoxylin-eosin staining. In conclusion, the low IC50 values of curcumin for 24 hours indicate that curcumin is effective against A549 cells. It has the potential to be used either alone or in combination with other agents in cancer studies in case its low toxic effect on normal was assured.