Cellular uptake and apoptotic properties of gemini curcumin in gastric cancer cells.

Introduction: Curcumin is a polyphenolic natural compound, which has demonstrated to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects in vitro & in vivo. However, its applicability in cancer therapy has been limited due to its poor cellular uptake. Here, we aimed to evaluate the anticancer effect of novel gemini curcumin (Gemini-Cur) on the gastric cancer AGS cells.

Method: The AGS cancerous and HFF-2 non-cancerous cells were treated with Gemini-Cur and curcumin (Cur) in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Cellular toxicity was studied using MTT, fluorescence microscopy, annexin V/FITC, and cell cycle assays. Additionally, real-time PCR and western blotting were employed to evaluate the expression of Bax, Bcl-2 and survivin genes.

Results: Our data indicated that Gemini-Cur is significantly taken into AGS cells compared to Cur. Moreover, the viability of Gemini-Cur treated cells was significantly reduced in a time- and dose-dependent manner (p < 0.001). Gemini-Cur compound induced G2/M cell cycle arrest that was followed by apoptosis in a time-dependent manner (p < 0.0001).

Discussion: Taken together, our findings support the idea that Gemini-Cur has the potential to be considered as an anticancer agent.