title: Reproductive effects of a pegylated curcumin.
abstract: Curcumin, a polyphenol derived from the rhizome turmeric, has potential as an anticancer agent. We synthesized an amphipathic/surfactant pegylated curcumin (curcumin-PEG) designed for parenteral administration. Objectives of these investigations were to assess side-effects of a therapeutic regimen of curcumin-PEG in a preclinical model. Intraperitoneal (ip) tumor burdens were reduced in athymic female mice grafted with human SKOV-3 ovarian adenocarcinoma cells and injected intravenously (iv) with curcumin-PEG. There were no gross anatomical or histopathological effects detected in non-reproductive organs. Uteri (luminal fluid imbibition) and ovaries (decreased folliculogenesis) were affected by treatment. Curcumin-PEG ip hastened the onset of puberty in immature female mice. Live births were reduced in mature females housed with males and treated iv with curcumin-PEG; mating (vaginal plugs) was not affected. Accessory gland weights, testicular testosterone concentrations, and spermatogenesis were diminished in mature male mice following iv curcumin-PEG. Estrogenic/antiandrogenic and pregnancy-disrupting effects of a water soluble/bioavailable curcumin were demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Biology Program and Soft Materials Laboratory, University of Wyoming, Laramie, USA.
authors.forename: Caitlin J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Huadong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Edward A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Van Kirk
authors.forename: Youqing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Murdoch
mesh_terms: D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003474:Curcumin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity*; D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D047368:Tumor Burden / Q000187:drug effects; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D013739:Testosterone; D003474:Curcumin