Combination of Curcuma (Curcuma xanthorriza Roxb) Rhizome Ethanolic Extract and Awar-Awar (Ficus septica Burm.F) Leaves Ethanolic Extract Increases Cisplatin Cytotoxicity on T47D Breast Cancer Cells through Cell Cycle Modulation

Curcuma (Curcuma xanthorriza Roxb.) and Awar-awar ((Ficus septica Burm.f.) are well known to have anticancer potential especially for breast cancer with low toxicity. This study aims to examine the potential effect of the combination of Curcuma ethanolic extracts (CEE) and awar-awar leaves ethanolic extract (AEE) to increase the efficacy of cisplatin toward T47D breast cancer cells. The combination activity was done using 3 series of concentration, 1/3; 1/6 and 1/12 of IC50, to determine the combination index (CI) of cisplatin, CEE and AEE under MTT assay. The result showed that the combination of 2.5 µM, 5 µg/ml, 1 µg/ml concentrations of cisplatin, CEE and AEE respectively result in synergistic effect with CI values less than 1. The treatment exhibited the cell accumulation in S phase (27.7%) against T47D breast cancer cells confirmed through cell cycle examination by flow cytometry. These results provided the evidence that the CEE and the AEE can be developed as co-chemotherapeutic agents combined with cisplatin to improve the effectiveness of breast cancer treatment. Keywords : Curcuma xanthorriza Roxb., Ficus septica Burm.f., cisplatin, cell cycl