Chemical Constituents of Curcuma zanthorrhiza and the Activity of (R)-(-)-a-Curcumene on the Migration and Invasion of MDA-MB-231 Cell Line

The rhizomes of Curcuma zanthorrhiza Roxb., Zingiberaceae, are widely used as medication by folk and traditional practitioners to treat numerous human ailments. Bioassay-guided chemical constituents isolated from the crude methanolic extract of C. zanthorrhiza rhizomes yielded (R)-(-)-a-curcumene, germacrone, (R)-(-)-xanthorrhizol, (12R/12S)-12,13-epoxyxanthorrhizols, furanodienone, zederone, stigmasterol, curcumin, and demethoxycurcumin. The results of the cell viability assay revealed that (R)-(-)-a-curcumene, germacrone, (R)-(-)-xanthorrhizol, furanodienone, curcumin, and demethoxycurcumin are the bioactive constituents of C. zanthorrhiza rhizomes against MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. The investigation of (R)-(-)-a-curcumene on the MDA-MB-231 cell migration and invasion revealed significant inhibition at the selected concentrations in a concentration-dependent manner, demonstrated in the scratch and transwell migration assays and the invasion assay. Further investigation at the molecular level using gelatin zymography showed that this compound significantly inhibited migration and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells via the proteolytic inhibition of metalloproteinase enzyme-9. These findings cumulatively highlighted that (R)-(-)-a-curcumene might proceed for further studies to be considered as a potential drug for the treatment of breast cancer.