Abstract LB-177: A supercritical turmeric extract prevents small intestinal and colonic tumors in the APCMin/+ mice by suppressing proliferation and cancer stem cell markers
Authors: Madka Venkateshwar , Mohammed Altaf , Biddick Laura , Zhang Yuting , Newman Robert A. , Aggarwal Bharat B. , Rao Chinthalapally V. 
Published: August 2012

CRC is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the United States. Curcumin, a principle compound in turmeric, has been extensively investigated and proven to be antiinflammatory and anticarcinogenic against numerous cancers including CRC. Turmeric is consumed as a dietary ingredient by large populations and turmeric extracts as a dietary supplement by healthy as well as high-risk individuals with various chronic diseases. Turmeric, however, contains over 300 different compounds including essential oils; curcuminoids, turmerones, etc. Most turmeric extracts commonly used as dietary supplements contains &lt;6% curcuminoids; however, to date no studies have been undertaken to determine whether these turmeric extracts are effective or not in comparison to curcumin in preventing colonic tumors. In this study, we tested a supercritical extract of turmeric (TurmericForce™) in comparison to an equal amount of curcumin against the APC-min/+ SI and colon polyposis model. Six-week-old male APC-Min/+ mice (n = 15 per group) were fed with control AIN-76A diet or diets containing 2,000 ppm turmeric extract or 2,000 ppm or 120 ppm curcumin for 14 weeks; intestinal tumors were then evaluated for tumor incidence and multiplicity. Mice fed with either 2,000 ppm turmeric extract or curcumin exhibited a significantly suppressed SI polyp multiplicity by 26.3 ±8.3 (Mean±SD; 45.5%, p&lt;0.0001) and 32.5 ±7.8 (32.5%, P&lt;0.0001), respectively. Importantly, the 2,000 ppm turmeric extract showed significantly (p&lt;0.026) better inhibitory effect compared to 2,000 ppm curcumin in SI polyp suppression. Colon tumor incidences were 77%, 54%, and 50% for mice fed control, turmeric extract and curcumin, respectively. Furthermore, colonic tumor multiplicities were 1.46 ± 1.1 (control); 0.57± 0.6 (turmeric extract, 61%inhibition, p&lt;0.01) and 0.61±0.65 (2,000 ppm curcumin, 56% inhibition, p&lt;0.015). In contrast, 120 ppm curcumin (equal to curcumin content in turmeric extract) produced limited SI tumor inhibitory effects (14% inhibition) in APC-Min/+ mice. Both turmeric extract and curcumin showed a significant reduction is PCNA and β-catenin expression levels and an increase in p21 and TUNEL positive cells. Also, Real time PCR and IHC analysis showed a significant reduction in cancer stem (CD133 and ALDH1) marker positive cells by the turmeric extract and curcumin. These results suggest that the supercritical turmeric extract had equal or better chemopreventive properties than curcumin alone in suppressing intestinal tumorigenesis. {Supported by Kerley-Cade Endowment}

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-177. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-LB-177