Zerumbone induces growth inhibition of Burkitt’s lymphoma cell line via apoptosis

Zerumbone (ZER), a natural compound has been extracted from Zingiber zerumbet with known pharmacological activities. The aim was to determine the anti-human Burkitt’s lymphoma (Raji) cell effect of ZER. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5,-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to determine cytotoxic effect while the Annexin-V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide-PI flow cytometric assays was used to determine apoptotic effect of ZER on the human Burkitt’s lymphoma (Raji) cell (ATCC CCL-86) cell line. The expressions of Bax, Bcl-2, and c-Myc genes were determined via real-time PCR. ZER suppressed the proliferation of Raji cells with a 48 h IC50 value of 5.1 μg/mL. Treated Raji cells also underwent late apoptosis especially after treatment with 100 μg/mL ZER. The apoptotic effect of ZER is associated with increase in Bax and decrease in Bcl-2 and c-Myc gene expressions. These results suggest that ZER inhibited the proliferation of Raji cells through the modification of apoptosis-related gene expressions. Therefore, ZER has potential as a candidate for the treatment of Burkitt’s lymphoma.