Temulawak (Curcuma xanthorrhiza) Extract as a Cancer Chemopreventive Agent Via Up-Regulation p53 and Caspase-3 Gene

Abstract

The development of biomaterials from herbs needs to be done as a chemopreventive compound to inhibit cervical cancer. Curcuma xanthorrhiza (CX) contains curcumin and xanthorrhizol, which are the main active substances for inhibiting carcinogenesis. Experimental research was carried out on cervical cancer cells from ethanol extracts of CX/EECX. Testing for proapoptosis potential by observing p53 gene expression in the HeLa cell was conducted by the flow cytometry method. Cytotoxic tests were carried out to obtained IC50, the results of 36.12 ± 6.66µg ml-1. The IC50 value is then made into three concentrations, namely, 1/2 IC50, IC50, 2xIC50. The ICC test results showed an increase in the p53 gene expression index in the 1/2IC50 and IC50 concentration groups. The expression of p53 in the IC50 concentration group was higher than that in the 1/2IC50 group. There were no living cells in the 2xIC50 concentration group, so p53 expression could not be seen. EECX has potential as a chemopreventive biomaterial to prevent cervical cancer because it increases apoptotic activity in HeLa cells. The possibility of cell apoptosis, which is influenced by EECX with the optimal concentration that can be used, is IC50, which is 36.12 ± 6.66 µg ml-1.