Synergistic Chemopreventive Effects of Curcumin, Gingerol, and Shogaol on HeLa Cervical Cancer Cells

Abdull Rahim, Unwaniah; Mohd Yusof, Yasmin Anum; Mustapa, Marami; Nurdin, Armania; Che Roos, Nur Aishah; Mohamad Taridi, Nursiati; Mad Nordin, Mariam Firdhaus; Mohamed Shakrin, Nik Noorul Shakira

doi:10.31557/APJCP.2025.26.11.4087

Synergistic Chemopreventive Effects of Curcumin, Gingerol, and Shogaol on HeLa Cervical Cancer Cells

Document Type : Research Articles

Authors

Unwaniah Abdull Rahim ¹
Yasmin Anum Mohd Yusof ¹
Marami Mustapa ¹
Armania Nurdin ²^{, 3}
Nur Aishah Che Roos ¹
Nursiati Mohamad Taridi ¹
Mariam Firdhaus Mad Nordin ⁴
Nik Noorul Shakira Mohamed Shakrin ¹^{, 5}

¹ Faculty of Medicine and Defence Health, National Defence University of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

² Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia.

³ Laboratory of UPM-MAKNA Cancer Research (CANRES), Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.

⁴ Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

⁵ Centre for Tropicalisation (CENTROP), National Defence University of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

10.31557/APJCP.2025.26.11.4087

Abstract

Objective: Bioactive compounds including curcumin, gingerols, and shogaols possess strong anti-inflammatory and anti-tumour properties. However, their combined efficacy has yet to be fully explored. This study aimed to investigate the chemopreventive potential of individual and combined treatments of 6-/10-gingerols (6-/10-G), 6-/10-shogaols (6-/10-S), and curcumin (Cur) in HeLa cervical cancer cells. Methods: HeLa cell viability was evaluated using the MTT assay following a 24-hour treatment with a wide range of concentrations and ratios of the bioactive compounds. The combination index was analysed using the Chou-Talalay method, and apoptotic cells were assessed via flow cytometry with Annexin V/FITC-PI staining. Results: We found that the optimal formulation of Cur in combination with all ginger bioactive compounds demonstrated synergistic inhibition of HeLa cancer cell growth at a 3:1 ratio of Cur to ginger bioactive compounds. Furthermore, treatment with the Cur:6-G (45µM: 40µM) and Cur:10-S (45µM: 20µM) combination formulations at a ratio of 3:1 significantly (p < 0.005) inhibited cell growth (72-77%) and induced apoptosis (60-87%). These findings highlight the potent anticancer properties of the combined formulations on HeLa cells, surpassing the efficacy of individual compounds which require relatively high concentrations. Conclusion: The combination of Cur and ginger bioactive compounds enhances anti-proliferative effects and induces apoptosis in HeLa cell lines.

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