Background: Curcumin is one of the most studied natural compounds which has been used as a feed additive for centuries. Curcumin exhibits low oral bioavailability in rodents and human. Curcumin formulated with phosphatidylcholine (Meriva) increases curcumin bioavailability five-fold compared to original curcumin. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of curcumin conjugated with phosphatidylcholine as an anticancer agent.
Materials and methods: In this xenograft study, mammary gland tumor cell line (ENU1564) was inoculated into the mammary fat pad of athymic nude mice. The mice were treated orally with either curcumin or Meriva. The tumor and its lung metastasis were evaluated grossly, microscopically, and immunohistochemically.
Results: Meriva significantly reduced the expression of MMP-9 and lung metastasis of our cell line used in this experimental model.
Conclusion: Curcumin conjugated with phosphatidylcholine increased the efficacy of curcumin as an anticancer agent.