Apoptosis-induced anti-tumor effect of Curcuma kwangsiensis polysaccharides against human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells

► Curcuma kwangsiensis polysaccharides (CKP) were successfully extracted from dried rhizome of C. kwangsiensis. ► CKP can significantly inhibit the proliferation of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line CNE-2 cells. ► CKP-induced cell growth suppression was related with apoptosis promotion. ► The apoptosis-related protein expression of p53 was elevated, while the expression of Bcl-2 was attenuated.