Abstract:

The main purpose of this research was to explore the cytotoxicity of photoactivated curcumin based on fibroblast
cell line L929. The cell morphology was examined by an inverted microscope, relative growth rate (RGR, %) was
detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) method, cytotoxicity was evaluated according to the general standard,
and cell apoptosis was detected by DNA ladder analysis and Hoechst nuclear staining, respectively. Results showed that
photoactivated curcumin did not affect cell morphology, which was fusiform or irregular in shape and had no significant
difference when compared with the control group. It had no cytotoxicity with the toxicity grade “0” or “1”, and did not
cause apoptosis according to DNA ladder analysis and Hoechst nuclear staining. This study confirmed that photoactivated
curcumin had no toxicity to L929 cells at the concentrations of 5, 10 and 20 μmol/L. These results will lay a foundation
for exploring the safety of consumption of photoactivated curcumin and provide the theory basis for the popularization and
application of curcumin-mediated photodynamic non-thermal sterilization technology in daily life.

Key words: photoactivated curcumin, cytotoxicity, methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay, apoptosis