Potentiation by turmeric and curcumin of ?-radiation-induced chromosome aberrations in Chinese hamster ovary cells

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Abstract
The effect of turmeric and curcumin, two natural antioxidants, on the frequencies of chromosome aberrations induced in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells by γ-radiation was investigated. Cells were treated with three concentrations of each drug, turmeric (100, 250, and 500 μg/ml) and curcumin (2.5, 5, and 10 μg/ml), and then irradiated (2.5Gy) during different phases of the cell cycle. Turmeric was not clastogenic by itself, whereas curcumin at 10 μg/ml enhanced the chromosomal damage frequency. Neither of the two antioxidants showed protective effect against the clastogenicity of γ-radiation. Instead, an obvious increase in the frequencies of chromosome aberrations was observed when turmeric at 500 μg/ml was associated with γ-radiation during G2/S phase, and curcumin at 10 μg/ml plus γ-radiation during S and G2/S phases of the cell cycle. The results clearly indicate the exacerbated effect of turmeric and curcumin on radiation-induced clastogenicity, suggesting that these antioxidants are also potentiating agents depending on the experimental conditions. Teratogenesis Carcinog. Mutagen. 19:9–18, 1999.