International Institute of Anticancer Research (IIAR)
Abstract
Xanthorrhizol is a sesquiterpenoid compound
extracted from Curcuma xanthorrhiza, which is known locally
as Temulawak. Traditionally, C. xanthorrhiza was found to
have antibacterial, anticancer and anti-inflammatory activity.
The rhizome has also been used to treat inflammation in
postpartum uterine bleeding. An antiproliferative assay using
methylene blue staining revealed that xanthorrhizol inhibited
the proliferation of the cervical cancer cell line HeLa with an
EC50 value of 6.16 Ìg/ml. Xanthorrhizol significantly increased
apoptosis in HeLa cells, as evaluated by the Tdt-mediated
dUTP nick end-labelling (TUNEL) assay and nuclear
morphology by Hoechst 33258 staining. Western blot analysis,
which was further confirmed by the immunostaining results,
implied an up-regulation of tumor suppressor protein p53 and
the pro-apoptotic protein Bax, following the treatment with
xanthorrhizol. Xanthorrhizol, however, did not affect the
expression of the anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl-2 and the viral
oncoprotein, E6. Hence, xanthorrhizol is a promising
antiproliferative and anticancer agent which induces p53 and
Bax-dependent apoptosis in HeLa cervical cancer cell
