Curcumin improves early functional results after experimental spinal cord injury.
BACKGROUND
Curcumin is a polyphenol extracted from the rhizome of Curcuma longa and well known as a multifunctional drug with anti-oxidative, anticancerous, and anti-inflammatory activities. The aim of the study was to evaluate and compare the effects of the use of the curcumin and the methylprednisolone sodium succinate (MPSS) functionally, biochemically, and pathologically after experimental spinal cord injury (SCI).


METHODS
Forty rats were randomly allocated into five groups. Group 1 was performed only laminectomy. Group 2 was introduced 70-g closing force aneurysm clip injury. Group 3 was given 30 mg/kg MPSS intraperitoneally immediately after the trauma. Group 4 was given 200 mg/kg of curcumin immediately after the trauma. Group 5 was the vehicle, and immediately after trauma, 1 mL of rice bran oil was injected. The animals were examined by inclined plane score and Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan scale 24 h after the trauma. At the end of the experiment, spinal cord tissue samples were harvested to analyze tissue concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and catalase (CAT) activity and pathological evaluation.


RESULTS
Curcumin treatment improved neurologic outcome, which was supported by decreased level of tissue MDA and increased levels of tissue GSH-Px, SOD, and CAT activity. Light microscopy results also showed preservation of tissue structure in the treatment group.


CONCLUSIONS
This study showed the neuroprotective effects of curcumin on experimental SCI model. By increasing tissue levels of GSH-Px, SOD, and CAT, curcumin seems to reduce the effects of injury to the spinal cord, which may be beneficial for neuronal survival.
Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Fatih University, 06510 Emek, Ankara, Turkey. berker5@yahoo.com
Berker
B
Cemil
Kivanc
K
Topuz
Mehmet Nusret
MN
Demircan
Gokhan
G
Kurt
Kagan
K
Tun
Murat
M
Kutlay
Osman
O
Ipcioglu
Zafer
Z
Kucukodaci
D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008297:Male; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D003474:Curcumin