title: Antioxidant effects of curcumin in spinal cord injury in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This experimental study was performed to investigate the benefit of curcumin via its antioxidant effect on spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four adult Wistar albino rats were randomized into three groups. SCI was performed by the weight-drop model. Group 1 underwent laminectomy followed by SCI and received no medication. Group 2 underwent laminectomy followed by SCI and received curcumin (200 mg/kg/day orally). Group 3 underwent laminectomy followed by SCI and received methylprednisolone (30 mg/kg intraperitoneally). Twenty-four hours later, blood samples were obtained from all rats; serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were determined, and the obtained results were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SOD level in the curcumin group was higher than in the control group (p < 0.000) and methylprednisolone group (p < 0.012). MDA level in the curcumin group was lower than in the control group (p < 0.042). Similarly, the MDA level in the methylprednisolone group was lower than in the control group (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study show that curcumin effectively protects the spinal cord tissues against oxidative damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Ankara Atatürk Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. havvasahin1973@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Havva
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sahin Kavaklı
authors.forename: Cemile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Koca
authors.forename: Ozlem
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Alıcı
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007796:Laminectomy; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000975:Antioxidants; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D003474:Curcumin; D008775:Methylprednisolone