Zerumbone inhibits interleukin-6 and induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in ovarian and cervical cancer cells

► Role of IL-6 and IL6-R in the cytotoxicity of zerumbone in Caov-3 and HeLa cell lines was investigated. ► MTT assay, confocal microscopy and TUNEL assay showed typical apoptosis of these cells. ► Zerumbone and cisplatin stimulate apoptosis better than cisplatin. ► Zerumbone and cisplatin arrest cancer cells at G2/M phase as analysed by flow cytometry. ► Zerumbone significantly decreased the levels of IL-6 and membrane-bound IL-6 receptor.