姜黄素是从姜科、天南星科中的一些植物的根茎中提取的一种化学成分，其中，姜黄约含3%～6%，是植物界很稀少的具有二酮的色素，为二酮类化合物。
近来有报道姜黄素具有抗多种类型癌症的作用，但这种抗癌作用的分子机制尚不完全清楚。最近发表在Molecular Biology Reports杂志上的一项研究中，研究人员评估分析了姜黄素对人类乳腺上皮细胞MCF-7细胞的作用。细胞经姜黄素处理后，MTT法检测肿瘤细胞活力。采用Transwell小室检测细胞的侵袭能力。NF-κB结合DNA的活性用跨AM NF-κB的ELISA试剂盒对核提取物进行检测。Western印迹检测姜黄素对uPA表达的作用。
研究结果表明姜黄素剂量依赖性地抑制MCF-7细胞增殖。同时，姜黄素处理MCF-7细胞后，其粘附和侵袭能力被大幅抑制。姜黄素也显着下降uPA的表达以及NF-κB的DNA结合活性。研究数据表明姜黄素通过抑制NF-κB的活化下调uPA的表达，拮抗MCF-7细胞的粘附和侵袭。研究人员希望姜黄素对乳腺癌的治疗潜力值得进一步研究。（生物谷：Bioon.com）
doi:10.1007/s11033-011-1273-5
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Curcumin inhibits metastatic progression of breast cancer cell through suppression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator by NF-kappa B signaling pathways.
Zong H, Wang F, Fan QX, Wang LX.
Curcumin (1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione), is extracted from the plant Curcuma longa. It was recently reported for its anticancer effect on several types of cancer cells in vitro however, the molecular mechanisms of this anticancer effect are not fully understood. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of curcumin on human mammary epithelial carcinoma MCF-7 cells. Cells were treated with curcumin and examined for cell viability by MTT assay. The cells invasion was demonstrated by transwell assay. The binding activity of NF-κB to DNA was examined in nuclear extracts using Trans-AM NF-κB ELISA kit. Western blot was performed to detect the effect of curcumin on the expression of uPA. Our results showed that curcumin dose-dependently inhibited (P < 0.05) the proliferation of MCF-7 cells. Meanwhile, the adhesion and invasion ability of MCF-7 cells were sharply inhibited when treated with different concentrations of curcumin. Curcumin also significantly decreased (P < 0.05) the expression of uPA and NF-κB DNA binding activity, respectively. It is concluded that curcumin inhibits the adhesion and invasion of MCF-7 cells through down-regulating the protein expression of uPA via of NF-κB activation. Accordingly, the therapeutic potential of curcumin for breast cancer deserves further study.
