• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.256-262
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• 1992

For the evaluation of the role of substituents of ar-turmerone for its anticancer activity, ar-turmerone (1a) and its analogs like 2-methyl-6-(4'-methyphenyl)-2-octen-4-one (1b), 2-methyl-6-phenyl-2-hepten-4-one (1c), 2-methyl-6-phenyl-2-octen-4-one (1d) and 2 methyl-6-(trans-4'-methylcyclohexyl)-2-hepten-4-one (1e) were preparedd and their cytotoxic activities against $L_{1210}$ cell were determined. Omission of methyl group at para-position dose not variate the cytotoxicity of ar-turmerone. Elongation of alkyl group at 6-position decreases $ED_{50}$ value. Saturation of aromatic ring of ar-turmerone markedly decreases the cytotoxicity. Therefore the smaller size of alkyl group at 6-position and aromatic ring of ar-turmerone should be essential for exhibiting its anticancer activity.

• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.96-100
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• 2009

Aromatic (ar)-turmerone from turmeric oil displays anti-tumorigenesis activity that includes inhibited cell proliferation. This study investigated ar-turmerone-mediated apoptotic protein activation in human lymphoma U937 cells. Ar-turmerone treatment inhibited U937 cell viability in a concentration-dependent fashion, with inhibition exceeding 84%. Moreover, the treatment produced nucleosomal DNA fragmentation and the percentage of sub-diploid cells increased in a concentration-dependent manner; both are hallmarks of apoptosis. The apoptotic effect of ar-turmerone was associated with the induction of Bax and p53 proteins, rather than Bcl-2 and p21. Activation of mitochondrial cytochrome c and caspase-3 demonstrated that the activation of caspases accompanied the apoptotic effect of ar-turmerone, which mediated cell death. These results suggest that the apoptotic effect of ar-turmerone on U937 cells may involve caspase-3 activation through the induction of Bax and p53, rather than Bcl-2 and p21.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.203-215
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• 1991

Using the calorimetric [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] (MTT)assay, we evaluated the chemosensitivity of 8 anticancer drugs{vincristine(VCR), vinblastine(VBL), adriamycin(ADR), cisplatin(CPDD), etoposide(VP-16), cytosine arabinoside(ara-C), bleomycin (Bleo) and cyclophosphamide(CYC)} and the cytotoxicity-enhancing effects of ($\pm$)-ar-turmerone and the extracts of the crude drugs {Lithospermum eythrorhizon(LE) and Scutellaria baicalensis (SB)} on the above mentioned anticancer drugs against HL-60 and KG-1 cells among 8 anticancer drugs, VCR, VBL, ADR, and CPDD inhibited the growth of both cell lines by more than 50%, while VP-16, ara-C, Bleo, and CYC were less effective. ($\pm$)-ar-Turmerone had significant inhibitory effects against both cell lines, showing the ID$_{50}$ values of 11.730 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml and 0.292 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml for HL-60 and KG-1 cells. respectively. But the extracts of LE and SB roots showed no significant cytotoxic effects. According to ID$_{50}$ values, the cytotoxicities of VCR, VBL and ADR against HL-60 were enhanced two, eight and three times by mixing ($\pm$)-ar-turmerone, five, seven and three times by adding the extract of LE root, and twenty, six and three times by mixing the extract of SB root, respectively. The cytotoxicities of the above mentioned drugs against KG-1 cell were enhanced two, seven and three times by mixing ($\pm$)-ar-turmerone, two, three and three times by combining wilth the extract of LB root, and two, five and two times by adding the extract of SB root, respectively. The cytotoxicity-potentiating effects of ($\pm$)-ar-turmerone and the extracts of LE and SB roots against HL-60 cell were greater than KG-1 cell.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.424-426
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• 2001

In the course of searching for biologically active sesquiterpenoids from Curcuma genus, two sesquiterpenoids were isolated from the rhizome of Curcuma zedoaria (Zingiberaceae). Their structures were identified as ar-turmerone (1) and $\beta$-turmerone (2). The structure elucidation of compounds 1 and 2 was carried out by comparison of their physical and spectral data with previously reported values.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.559-563
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• 2006

The growth responses of six bacterial strains exposed to materials extracted from turmeric (Curcuma longa) rhizomes were examined using impregnated paper disk agar diffusion. Methanol extracts of turmeric rhizomes exhibited strong inhibitory activity against Clostridium perfringens and weak inhibitory activity toward Escherichia coli at 5 mg/disk. However, in tests conducted with Bifidobacterium adolescentis, B. bifidum, B. longum, and Lactobacillus casei, the methanol extract showed no inhibitory response. The biologically active constituent isolated from the turmeric rhizomes extracts was characterized as ar-turmerone using various spectroscopic analyses including EI-MS and NMR. The responses varied according to the dosage, chemicals, and bacterial strain tested. At 2 and 1 mg/disk, ar-turmerone strongly inhibited the growth of C. perfringens and moderately inhibited the growth of E. coli without any adverse effects on the growth of four lactic acid-bacteria. Of the commercially available compounds originating from turmeric rhizomes, curcumin exhibited strong and moderate growth inhibition against C. perfringens at 2 and 1 mg/disk, respectively, and weak growth inhibition against E. coli at 1 mg/disk. However, little or no activity was observed for borneol, 1,8-cineole, and sabinene against all six bacteria strains tested. The observed inhibitory activity of the turmeric rhizome-derived curcumin and ar-turmerone against C. perfringens and E. coli demonstrate one of the important pharmacological activities of turmeric rhizomes.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.223-226
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• 1989

A cytotoxic sesquiterpene against L1210 cell has been isolated from the root of Curcuma domestica. Its structure was identified as ${\beta}-sesquiphellandrene$. The cytotoxicity-potentiating substance was (+)-ar-turmerone. (+)-ar-Turmerone potentiated the cytotoxicity of ${\beta}-sesquiphellandrene$(5 fold in $ED_{50}$ value) and an unknown sesquiterpene which was isolated from the root as well, and that of aurapten(6.3 fold) isolated from the unripe fruit of Poncirus trifoliata. Moreover, it potentiated the cytotoxic activities of MeCCNU 10 fold and cyclophosphamide 10 fold. Except the fact that all the effective cytotoxic substances possess relatively good lipophilicity, no relationship between structures of the cytotoxic substances and the cytotoxicity-enhancing effect of (+)-ar-turmerone could be observed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.174-174
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• 2003

The Chinese traditional medicine Curcuma zedoaria (Zingiberaceae) has been proven to have a potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticarcinogenic effects. A sesquiterpene, ar-turmerone, is isolated from Curcuma zedoaria. We have investigated the cytotoxic effect of ar-turmerone on K562, L1210, Jurkat, U937, Siha, RBL, and SNU cell lines by MTT assay.(omitted)

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.91-94
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• 1996

In the course of a search for antitumor agents, we found that the extract of Curcuma longa was effective in inducing apoptosis or programmed cell death (PCD) in human myeloid leukemia cells (HL-60). Active compounds for PCD were isolated from the hexanic extraction of the rhizome of Curcuma longa. With the several chromatographies, and spectral data, they were identified as ar-turmerone and $\beta-atlantone$. The present results demonstrate that the exposure of human myeloid leukemia HL-60 cells to clinically achievable concentrations of arturmerone (TU) or .$\beta-atlantone$(AT) produced internucleosomal DNA fragmentation of approximately 200 base-pair multiples, and the morphological changes characteristic of cells undergoing apoptosis or PCD. This findings suggest that these agents may exert their antitumoral activity, in part, through induction of apoptosis(PCD).

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.219-226
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• 1993

For the analysis of structure relationship of ar-turmerone analogues, the compounds containing the various substituents on the phenyl ring and 1(or 2)-naphthyl group in the place of phenyl of ar-turmerone were prepared and tested their cytotoxicity against HL-60, K-562, and L1210 leukemia cells in vitro. The substituents at para position are methoxy, phenoxy, methyl, trifluoromethyl, fluoro, and chloro. At meta position methoxy, methyl, trifluoromethyl, or chloro groups at ortho position mathoxy or chloro group were introduced. Against HL-60 and K-562 cells, $ED_{50}$ values of the analogues are ranged from 0.8 to $30.0\;\mu{g/ml}$. Againste L1210 cell, these are located more than $20.0\;\mu{g/ml}$. However, 5-carbone-thoxy-2-methyl-6(1-naphthyl)-2-octen-4-one (5n)possesses $ED_{50}$ valuses 0.8, 2.1, $6.5\;\mu{g/ml}$ against HL-60, L1210 cells, respectively. The electronic nature of the substituents on phenyl ring of ar-tumerone dose not affect the biological activity. Therefore the flat structure of aromatic potion of ar-tumerone analogues is the more important factor for their activity rather than its electronic nature. The potentiation of the cytotoxicity with the enlargement of aromatic ring region also supports the importance of the plane structure of this area. The restriction of the single bond rotation between C-6 and aromatic ring through the introduction of substituents at the ortho position of phenyl ring and the increment of size of alkyl group at C-6 position enhances the activity. Therefore the effective conformation should by the one having the orthogonal arrangement between the aromatic ring and the side chain.

• Proceedings of the Korea Environmental Mutagen Society Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.174-174
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• 2003