Seyede Fateme Heydari - Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Marzieh Ghollasi - Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran
Mohsen Ghiasi - Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Payam Behzadi - Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Sciences, Shahr-e-Qods Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Introduction: Cancer is a complex disease influenced by genetics and environmental factors, registering a high annual mortality rate worldwide. Despite significant advances in cancer treatment, conventional drug therapies for various cancers have many side effects. Today, the use of complementary medicine is prevalent. Curcumin, as a polyphenol, has many biological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antiviral activity. In recent years, its anti-cancer potential has been recognized by scientists worldwide. In the present study, the toxicity of diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) and the inhibitory effect of curcumin on the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) ۱, ۸, ۱۳, and ۱۸ as genes involved in metastasis in RAW۲۶۴.۷ cell line were investigated.Materials and Methods: In this study, the effect of different doses of DEHP and curcumin, were respectively, studied on the cancer cell line ofRAW۲۶۴.۷ by MTT assay and AO/EB staining. The RT PCR was employed to determine the gene expression of MMPs ۱, ۸, ۱۳, and ۱۸.Results: The results of the MTT assay and AO/EB staining indicated that the optimal dose of DEHP was ۲۰۰ μM, and the optimal dose of curcumin was ۲۵ μM. The combination group selected the same dose (optimal dose of DEHP and curcumin) The results of Real-time PCR showed a decrease in the expression of curcumin-influenced MMPs ۱, ۸, ۱۳, and ۱۸ genes.Conclusions: The in vitro inhibitory effect of curcumin on the expression of MMPs genes, which are very important in cancer cell metastasis and establishment, encourages us to continue this project in the form of in vivo research.

curcumin, Diethylhexyl Phthalate, Matrix metalloproteases, cancer, Metastasis