Biological Studies of Turmeric Oil, Part 1: Selective in vitro Anticancer Activity of Turmeric Oil (TO) and TO-Paclitaxel Combination

Abstract

The oil from turmeric (Curcuma longa) contains several sesquiterpenes with medicinal properties. The oil fractions were purified by repeated high vacuum distillations to constant boiling points and by column chromatography. The major components in the oil fractions were identified as α,β and ar-turmerones. The purified turmeric oil (TO) fractions had growth inhibitory activity against breast (SKBR-3), pancreatic (PANC-1), and prostate (PC-3) cancers, and reduced activity against a non-cancerous cell line, WI-38. A combination of the distillation fraction of turmeric oil and paclitaxel showed substantial increase in growth inhibitory activity against the three cancer cell lines compared with paclitaxel alone, while having reduced activity against the non-cancerous cell line. Percent inhibition may be related to the structural parameters of the turmerones. These results suggest that components in turmeric oil fractions have anticancer activity against breast, pancreatic and prostate cancer and a strong positive effect on the activity of paclitaxel.