title: Neuroprotective effect of curcumin in arsenic-induced neurotoxicity in rats.
abstract: Our recent studies have shown that arsenic-induced neurobehavioral toxicity is protected by curcumin by modulating oxidative stress and dopaminergic functions in rats. In addition, the neuroprotective effect of curcumin has been investigated on arsenic-induced alterations in biogenic amines, their metabolites and nitric oxide (NO), which play an important role in neurotransmission process. Decrease in the levels of dopamine (DA, 28%), norepinephrine (NE, 54%), epinephrine (EPN, 46%), serotonin (5-HT, 44%), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC, 20%) and homovanillic acid (HVA, 31%) in corpus striatum; DA (51%), NE (22%), EPN (47%), 5-HT (25%), DOPAC (34%) and HVA (41%) in frontal cortex and DA (35%), NE (35%), EPN (29%), 5-HT (54%), DOPAC (37%) and HVA (46%) in hippocampus, observed in arsenic (sodium arsenite, 20 mg/kg body weight, p.o., 28 days) treated rats exhibited a trend of recovery in rats simultaneously treated with arsenic and curcumin (100 mg/kg body weight, p.o., 28 days). Increased levels of NO in corpus striatum (2.4-fold), frontal cortex (6.1-fold) and hippocampus (6.2-fold) in arsenic-treated rats were found decreased in rats simultaneously treated with arsenic and curcumin. It is evident that curcumin modulates levels of brain biogenic amines and NO in arsenic-exposed rats and these results further strengthen its neuroprotective efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (A Constituent Laboratory of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi), Post Box 80, MG Marg, Lucknow 226001, India.
authors.forename: Rajesh S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Yadav
authors.forename: Rajendra K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Shukla
authors.forename: Madhu Lata
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Sankhwar
authors.forename: Devendra K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Reyaz W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Ansari
authors.forename: Aditya B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Pant
authors.forename: Fakhrul
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Islam
authors.forename: Vinay K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Khanna
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001151:Arsenic / Q000494:pharmacology; D020261:Arsenic Poisoning / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001679:Biogenic Amines / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D003474:Curcumin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005260:Female; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D001679:Biogenic Amines; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D003474:Curcumin; D001151:Arsenic