Curcumin inhibits WEHI-3 leukemia cells in BALB/c mice in vivo

Curcumin (1, 7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5- dione), a natural polyphenol product of the plant Curcuma longa, exhibited potent inhibitory activities against proliferation, induced cell cycle arrest and exhibited the induction of apoptosis in several tumor cell lines. In our previous studies, we have shown that curcumin induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis on human leukemia HL-60 and mouse leukemia WEHI-3 cells; there are no reports regarding whether or not it affects leukemia cells in vivo. In the present study, we investigated the effects of curcumin on WEHI-3 in BALB/c mice and the results indicated that curcumin reduces the percentage of Mac-3 marker, which is the precursor of macrophage. Curcumin induced significant effects on the population of B cells from murine leukemia in vivo. We also investigated the weights of spleen and liver from murine leukemia and the results showed that curcumin reduced the weight of the liver and spleen. From the pathological examinations, the effects of curcumin on the liver and spleen from mice after being injected with WEHI-3 cells were apparent. Both organs were enlarged. In conclusion, curcumin affect WEHI-3 cells in vivo.