In previous studies, curcumin has been reported to induce the apoptosis of human leukemia THP-1 cells through the activation of JNK/ERK pathways [21] and SHI-1 cells, possibly via both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways triggered by MAPKs (ERK, JNK and p38) signaling [22]. Here, MAPK8 is linked to leukemia.