Proliferative Effects of Curcuma zedoaria Extract on Ovarian Tumor Cells

ABSTRACT

Background: Curcuma zedoaria is a common traditional herbal medicine that contains mainly curcumin and volatile oils with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor properties. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of C. zedoaria extract on the biological behavior of ovarian cancer (OC) cells. Materials and Methods: Active compounds were extracted from C. zedoaria, and the content of different active compounds was quantified. Their scavenging abilities against DPPH and -OH free radicals were analyzed, and the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) against different bacterial strains were determined. The human OC cell line SK-OV-3 was divided into four groups and cultured in media containing C. zedoaria extract at concentrations of 0.0, 0.3, 0.6, and 1.2 g/L. The proliferation, inhibition, migration, and apoptosis of primary OC cells were then assessed using the methyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay, the scratch-healing assay, and flow cytometry. Tumor cell invasion and clonogenicity were also assessed. Finally, the status of MEK/ERK signaling in the cells was examined by protein imprinting. Results: C. zedoaria extract contained 0.18% curcumin, 0.04% demethoxycurcumin, and 0.02% bisdemethoxycurcumin. When the concentration of C. zedoaria extract was ≥10 mg/mL, it exhibited a scavenging rate of over 85% for DPPH and -OH free radicals. In addition, C. zedoaria extract effectively inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis, with lower MICs observed for gram-positive bacteria. MTT cell proliferation and scratch assay results showed significant inhibition of SK-OV-3 cell proliferation and migration by C. zedoaria extract. Flow cytometry results indicated that the extract strongly promoted apoptosis in SK-OV-3 cells. Compared with the control group, the invasive and clonogenic abilities of SK-OV-3 cells decreased with increasing concentration of the extract. Protein imprinting results showed that treatment with C. zedoaria extract led to a concentration-dependent decrease in p-MEK1/2 and p-ERK1/2 protein levels in SK-OV-3 cells. Conclusion: C. zedoaria extract possesses potent antioxidant, antibacterial, and antitumor properties. In addition, C. zedoaria extract can suppress the activation of MEK/ERK signaling, thereby inhibiting the proliferation and migration of SK-OV-3 cells, inducing apoptosis, and reducing the invasive and clonogenic potential of SK-OV-3 cells. It provides a theoretical basis for the discovery of novel drugs using C. zedoaria extract and its clinical applications in the treatment of OC.

KEYWORDS

• Ovarian cancer
• Curcuma zedoaria extract
• curcumin
• proliferation
• migration
• apoptosis

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• DOI10.1177/09731296241298344Copy

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