Planta Med 2017; 83(12/13): 1028-1034
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-107885
Pharmacokinetic Investigations
Original Papers
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Metabolism of Curcumin in Human Breast Cancer Cells: Impact of Sulfation on Cytotoxicity[*]

Qurrat Ul Ain Jamil
1   Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Division of Clinical Pharmacy and Diagnostics, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
,
Natharath Jaerapong
1   Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Division of Clinical Pharmacy and Diagnostics, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
2   Research Group for Pharmaceutical Activities of Natural Products Using Pharmaceutical Biotechnology (PANPB), Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kean University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
,
Martin Zehl
3   Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
4   Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
,
Kanokwan Jarukamjorn
2   Research Group for Pharmaceutical Activities of Natural Products Using Pharmaceutical Biotechnology (PANPB), Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kean University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
,
Walter Jäger
1   Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Division of Clinical Pharmacy and Diagnostics, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 31 January 2017
revised 19 March 2017

accepted 27 March 2017

Publication Date:
07 April 2017 (online)

Abstract

Curcumin is a natural polyphenol with promising anticancer properties that undergoes pronounced metabolism in humans. In order to determine whether metabolism of curcumin also occurs in tumor cells and whether biotransformation has any impact on cytotoxicity, metabolism experiments were conducted with hormone-dependent ZR-75-1 and hormone-independent MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. By using HPLC-ESI-Qq-TOF-MS, it was possible to identify one main metabolite, namely curcumin sulfate, in both cell lines. Its concentration in the cytoplasm and culture medium was 1.6- to 1.7-fold higher in ZR-75-1 cells than in MDA-MB-231 cells, concomitant with a 2-fold higher IC50 value in the ZR-75-1 cell line (14 µM compared to 7.3 µM). The net result of sulfation seems to lower the intracellular concentration of curcumin, thereby decreasing its growth inhibitory activity. Interestingly, for the first time, we also found the formation of a curcumin dimer in the cytoplasm but not in the cellular medium of both cell lines. Compared to curcumin sulfate, however, its maximal intracellular concentrations were up to 4-fold lower, indicating only a minor contribution to the overall curcumin clearance. In conclusion, our data elucidated the metabolism of curcumin in breast cancer cells, which must be considered in humans following oral uptake of dietary curcumin as a chemopreventive agent.

* Dedicated to Professor Dr. Max Wichtl in recognition of his outstanding contribution to pharmacognosy research.


 
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