ARS | Publication request: Curcumin inhibition of angiogenesis and adipogenesis

Submitted to: Experimental Biology
Publication Type: Abstract
Publication Acceptance Date: February 6, 2007
Publication Date: April 3, 2007
Citation: Ejaz, A., Wu, D., Meydani, M. 2007. Curcumin inhibition of angiogenesis and adipogenesis. Experimental Biology/The FASEB Journal. 21(6): p. A1089.

Technical Abstract: The growth of new blood vessels or angiogenesis is necessary for the growth of adipose tissue. Adipokines produced by fat cells stimulate this process. Some dietary polyphenols with antiangiogenic activity may suppress adipose tissue growth not only by inhibiting angiogenesis, but also by interfering with adipocyte development. In the present study, we examined the effect of curcumin, a natural polyphenol present in turmeric, on in vitro angiogenesis and adipocyte development. Curcumin at a low concentration (5 microM) inhibited angiogenesis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) on Matrigel induced by adipokines. We also found that curcumin significantly inhibited differentiation of pre-adipocytes (3T3-L1) to adipocytes in a dose-dependent manner (0-20 microM), as detected by oil-red-O staining. Curcumin, at concentrations up to 20 microM, had no effect on viability of pre-adipocytes or mature adipocytes. However, at 20 microM it caused apoptosis of mature adipocytes as demonstrated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling assays. In addition, curcumin increase the phosphorylation of AMP kinase, which increase fatty acid oxidation. These results suggest for the first time that curcumin may have potential health benefit effects in prevention of adipose tissue growth. Supported by USDA agreement # 58-1950-9-001.