title: Neuroprotective effect of curcumin in an experimental rat model of subarachnoid hemorrhage.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) causes a high mortality rate and morbidity. It was suggested that oxidant stress plays an important role in neuronal injury after SAH. Therefore, we assessed the effect of curcumin on reducing cerebral vasospasm and neurologic injury in a SAH model in rat.
  
  
  METHODS
  A double-hemorrhage model was used to induce SAH in rats. Groups of animals were treated with intraperitoneal injection of 20 mg/kg curcumin (curcumin group, n = 24) or dimethyl sulfoxide (vehicle group, n = 33), normal saline (SAH group, n = 34) or normal saline (sham group, n = 22), 3 h after SAH induction and daily for 6 days. Glutamate was measured before SAH induction and once daily for 7 days. Glutamate transporter-1, wall thickness and the perimeter of the basilar artery, neurologic scores, neuronal degeneration, malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Changes of glutamate levels were lower in the curcumin group versus the SAH and vehicle groups, especially on day 1 (56 folds attenuation vs. vehicle). Correspondingly, glutamate transporter-1 was preserved after SAH in curcumin-treated rats. In the hippocampus and the cortex, malondialdehyde was attenuated (30% and 50%, respectively). Superoxide dismutase (35% and 64%) and catalase (34% and 38%) activities were increased in the curcumin rats compared with the SAH rats. Mortality rate (relative risk: 0.59), wall thickness (30%) and perimeter (31%) of the basilar artery, neuron degeneration scores (39%), and neurologic scores (31%) were improved in curcumin-treated rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Curcumin in multiple doses is effective against glutamate neurotoxicity and oxidative stress and improves the mortality rate in rats with SAH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, National Defense Medical Center and Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chang-Po
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Chueng-He
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Li-Li
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Chen-Hwan
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Cherng
authors.forename: Chih-Shung
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Cecil O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Borel
authors.forename: Da-Tong
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Ju
authors.forename: Chun-Mei
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ching-Tang
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001488:Basilar Artery / Q000187:drug effects; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002374:Catalase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003474:Curcumin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D020301:Vasospasm, Intracranial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D003474:Curcumin; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide