Cytotoxic and DNA-Damaging Effects of Curcuminoids on Daudi and Jurkat Leukemic Cell Lines: Investigating Potential Alkylating Activity

This study aimed to assess novel role of curcuminoids as an alkylating agent against leukemic cells (Daudi and Jurkat cell lines). Cytotoxic activity was assessed using an MTT assay. Also, 4-(4’-nitrobenzyl) pyridine (NBP) was used as a DNA model for in vitro DNA alkylation. Results showed curcuminoids possess cytotoxic activity against both the Daudi and Jurkat cell lines. They showed 21.44 μg/ml and 48.82 μg/ ml IC50 values, compared to treatment with Melphalan at 22.37 μg/ml and 56.51 μg/ml for the Daudi and Jurkat cell lines, respectively. The curcuminoids were found to possess some alkylating activity, similar to that of Melphalan. In conclusion, chemical screening revealed an intrinsic property of curcuminoids with regard to their in vitro alkylating-like effects; however, these chemicals exert their cytotoxic functions on Daudi and Jurkat cells through a combination of DNA injury mechanisms. This indicates that alkylating-like chemical properties may act synergistically with other forms of cellular stress in activating the process of apoptosis, which expands the understanding of curcuminoids in treating hematological malignancies.