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Curcumin Attenuates Oxidative Stress in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HepG2) Cells: A Study on Viability and Antioxidant Enzyme Activity
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M Pouryani1   , F Ghavamifar2 , N Ziamajidi2 , M Sahlehzadeh3 , R Abbasalipourkabir2 , M Bahmani4 |
1- Student Research Committee, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
2- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
3- Department of Orthodontics, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
4- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran , bahmani.m64@gmail.com |
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Abstract: (1962 Views) |
Background & aim: Natural compounds, particularly curcumin, have emerged as promising agents in cancer prevention due to their potent antioxidant properties. Despite evidence supporting its bioactivity, further investigation into the specific effects of curcumin on oxidative stress markers in cancer cells is warranted. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of curcumin on oxidative stress status in the human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cell line.
Methods: This experimental study was conducted from 2024 to 2025. The viability of HepG2 cells after 24 and 48 hours of treatment with varying concentrations of curcumin (0, 3.9, 7.8, 15.6, 31.25, 62.5, 125, 250, 500, and 1000 µM) was assessed using the MTT assay. To evaluate oxidative stress, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant status (TOS), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, as well as the activities of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), were measured using commercial colorimetric kits. Data were analyzed using ANOVA, followed by Tukey’s post-hoc test, after confirming normality via the Shapiro-Wilk test.
Results: MTT assay results demonstrated that curcumin significantly reduced HepG2 cell viability. The IC50 value was determined to be 31.25 µM at 48 hours. Two concentrations (one lower and one higher than IC50) were selected for subsequent oxidative stress assays. Compared to the control group, treated cells exhibited significantly reduced TOS levels (p<0.01 for 15.6 µM; p<0.001 for 31.25 and 62.5 µM) and MDA levels (p<0.01 for 15.6 µM; p<0.001 for 31.25 and 62.5 µM). Conversely, TAC levels (p<0.05 for 15.6 µM; p<0.001 for higher concentrations) and the activities of SOD and CAT enzymes were significantly elevated in curcumin-treated groups (p<0.01 for 15.6 µM; p<0.001 for 31.25 and 62.5 µM).
Conclusion: Curcumin exhibits significant antioxidant effects in HepG2 cells, characterized by a reduction in oxidative markers (TOS and MDA) and an enhancement of antioxidant defenses (TAC and enzyme activity). These findings suggest that curcumin may mitigate oxidative stress in hepatocellular carcinoma, supporting its potential as an adjunctive therapeutic agent.
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| Keywords: Curcumin, Oxidative stress, HepG2 cells, Antioxidant capacity, Malondialdehyde, Superoxide dismutase, Catalase. |
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Biochemistry
Received: 2025/07/7 | Accepted: 2025/10/4 | Published: 2025/12/2
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