Result
Effect of curcumin on MCF-7 cell viability
The effect of different curcumin doses (0–100 lm) on MCF-7 cell morphology was examined. After a 24 h period, curcumin treatment caused MCF-7 cell shrinkage, rounding and partial detachment, thus, demonstrating the cytotoxic effects of curcumin on MCF-7 cells as shown in Fig. 1A. On assaying the effect of curcumin on cell viability by MTT assay, we observed a decrease in cell viability (Fig. 1B). At 40 lM curcumin concentration, significant loss of viability can be detected during the 0–24 h treatment period. It is noteworthy that curcumin-mediated reduction of cell via-bility was dose and time dependent (Fig. 1B and C). In order to confirm if MCF-7 cells were undergoing apoptosis, cells were treated with various concentrations of curcumin, and DNA was extracted and analyzed for laddering by using agarose gel electrophoresis. A typical DNA ladder pattern of inter-nucleosomal fragmentation, particularly at high curcumin concentrations, was observed (Fig. 1D).