Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Formation of Covalent DNA Adducts by Enzymatically Activated Carcinogens and Drugs In Vitro and Their Determination by 32P-postlabeling
09:33

Formation of Covalent DNA Adducts by Enzymatically Activated Carcinogens and Drugs In Vitro and Their Determination by 32P-postlabeling

Published on: March 20, 2018

Curcumin damages DNA in human gastric mucosa cells and lymphocytes

J Blasiak1, A Trzeciak, J Kowalik

  • 1Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.

Journal of Environmental Pathology, Toxicology and Oncology : Official Organ of the International Society for Environmental Toxicology and Cancer
|July 30, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Curcumin, found in turmeric, may harm DNA in gastric mucosa cells and lymphocytes, but these cells can recover. This suggests curcumin might have a dual role in cancer development.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Curcumin, a pigment in turmeric, is known for potential anti-cancer properties.
  • Dietary curcumin frequently targets human gastric mucosa (GM) cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of curcumin on DNA in GM cells and human peripheral blood lymphocytes.
  • To determine if curcumin has a dual role in carcinogenesis.

Main Methods:

  • The study utilized the single cell electrophoresis (comet assay) method.
  • Curcumin concentrations of 15, 25, and 50 microM were tested on GM cells and lymphocytes.
  • Cellular recovery from DNA damage was monitored over 120 minutes.

Main Results:

  • Curcumin induced DNA damage in both GM cells and human peripheral blood lymphocytes.
  • No significant difference in DNA damage extent was observed between the two cell types.
  • Both cell types demonstrated recovery from curcumin-induced DNA damage within 120 minutes.

Conclusions:

  • Curcumin exhibits genotoxic effects on gastric mucosa and lymphocytes.
  • The ability of cells to recover suggests a complex interaction.
  • Curcumin may possess a dual role in the process of carcinogenesis.

More Related Videos

Spectrophotometric Screening for Potential Inhibitors of Cytosolic Glutathione S-Transferases14:57

Spectrophotometric Screening for Potential Inhibitors of Cytosolic Glutathione S-Transferases

Published on: October 10, 2020

Multi-Gene Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Detection in Gastric Cancer Based on Ion Semiconductor Sequencing Platform06:21

Multi-Gene Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Detection in Gastric Cancer Based on Ion Semiconductor Sequencing Platform

Published on: May 10, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Nucleotide Excision Repair01:08

Nucleotide Excision Repair

Overview
Mutations01:35

Mutations

Mutations are changes in the sequence of DNA. These changes can occur spontaneously or they can be induced by exposure to environmental factors. Mutations can be characterized in a number of different ways: whether and how they alter the amino acid sequence of the protein, whether they occur over a small or large area of DNA, and whether they occur in somatic cells or germline cells.
Chromosomal Alterations Are Large-Scale Mutations
While point mutations are changes in a single nucleotide in...
Nucleotide Excision Repair01:38

Nucleotide Excision Repair

DNA Distortion and Damage
Cells are regularly exposed to mutagens—factors in the environment that can damage DNA and generate mutations. UV radiation is one of the most common mutagens and is estimated to introduce a significant number of changes in DNA. These include bends or kinks in the structure, which can block DNA replication or transcription. If these errors are not fixed, the damage can cause mutations, which in turn can result in cancer or disease depending on which sequences are...
Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity01:25

Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity

Mutagenicity and carcinogenicity refer to the ability of drugs to cause genetic defects and induce cancer, respectively. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies agents into four groups based on their carcinogenic potential. Group 1 agents are known human carcinogens; group 2A agents are probably carcinogenic to humans; group 3 agents lack data to support their role in carcinogenesis; and group 4 includes agents for which data support that they are not likely to be...
Gastritis-II: Pathophysiology01:17

Gastritis-II: Pathophysiology

Gastritis is marked by disruption of the mucosal barrier that usually protects the stomach tissue from digestive juices and manifests in acute and chronic forms.
In acute gastritis, the gastric mucosa becomes swollen and red and undergoes superficial erosion. Superficial ulceration may lead to bleeding.
In chronic gastritis, persistent or repeated insults lead to chronic inflammatory changes and, eventually, thinning or atrophy of the gastric tissue.
Gastritis can stem from various causes, each...
Gastritis II: Pathophysiology01:26

Gastritis II: Pathophysiology

The pathophysiology of gastritis begins with the colonization of the stomach lining by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). This bacterium spreads mainly via the oral-oral route through saliva or shared utensils, and can also be transmitted in overcrowded or unhygienic environments through contaminated water, despite its brief survival outside the body.ColonizationOnce ingested, H. pylori enters the stomach and begins colonization by navigating through the mucus layer lining the stomach wall. It...