ABSTRACT
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death for women and, in Indonesia, the incidence keeps increasing each year. Previous studies have found the use of Curcuma longa as antioxidant, antidiabetic, antiviral, even antiangiogenic. The role as antioxidant and antiangiogenic points to Curcuma longa as one of the potential plants for therapy of cancer. This study aims to know potential therapeutic use of this West Java plant for breast cancer and to know the cytotoxic range. Curcuma longa was prepared as an ethanol extraction using reflux methods. In-vitro investigation used MCF7 cell line. We conducted the cytotoxic examination using MTT assay of the extract to the cell line, and another examination for secondary metabolites. The screening results were positive for flavonoid and tannin as secondary metabolites and the IC50 from MTT assay of MCF7 is 0.256µg/ml (95% CI 0–3.04µmol). The ethanolic turmeric rhizome extract had high anticancer activity with IC50 values of 0.256µg/ml, revealing that Curcuma longa inhibits MCF7 proliferation. This result indicates the potential of Curcuma longa for further research as a therapeutic agent for breast cancer.
