Objective: To explore the growth inhibition effects and apoptosis inducing mechanisms of curcumin on human ovarian cancer cell line A2780.Methods: After treatment with 10–50 μmol/L curcumin for 6–24 h

the growth activity of A2780 cancer cells were studied by [4

5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2

5-dipheny-Itetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetry. Cellular apoptosis was inspected by flow cytometery and acridine orange-ethidium bromide fluorescent staining methods. The fragmentation of cellular chromosome DNA was detected by DNA ladder

the ultrastructural change was observed under a transmission electron microscope

and the protein levels of nuclear factor-Kappa B (NF-κB

P65) and cysteinyl aspartate specific protease-3 (Caspase-3) in ovarian cancer cells were measured by immunohistochemistry.Results: After treatment with various concentrations of curcumin

the growth inhibition rates of cancer cells reached 62.05% —89. 24%

with sub-G1 peaks appearing on histogram. Part of the cancer cells showed characteristic morphological changes of apoptosis under fluorescence and electron microscopes

and the rate of apoptosis was 21.5%–33.5%. The protein expression of NF-κB was decreased

while that of Caspase-3 was increased in a time-dependent manner.Conclusion: Curcumin could significantly inhibit the growth of human ovarian cancer cells; inducing apoptosis through up-regulating Caspase-3 and down-regulating gene expression of NF-κB is probably one of its molecular mechanisms.