title: Curcumin protects against cigarette smoke-induced cognitive impairment and increased acetylcholinesterase activity in rats.
abstract: Cigarette smoke, a widely spread habit, is associated with a decline in cognitive function and studies have demonstrated that curcumin (Cur), an Indian spice, possesses a strong neuroprotective potential. Considering the relevance of investigating dietary compounds this study aimed to investigate the effect of Cur on memory and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in brain structures and blood of cigarette smoke-exposed rats. Male Wistar rats were treated with curcumin and cigarette smoke, once a day, 5 days each week, for 30 days. The experimental procedures were divided in two sets of experiments. In the first, the animals were divided into 4 groups: Vehicle (corn oil), Cur 12.5 mg/kg, Cur 25 mg/kg and Cur 50 mg/kg. In the second, the animals were divided into 5 groups: Vehicle (corn oil), Smoke, Smoke plus Cur 12.5 mg/kg, Smoke plus Cur 25 mg/kg and Smoke plus Cur 50 mg/kg. Treatment with Cur significantly prevented the decreased latency and cholinergic alterations in cigarette smoke-exposed rats. These AChE alterations could suggest a role in the memory impairment promoted by cigarette smoke-exposure and point toward the potential of Cur to modulate cholinergic neurotransmission and, consequently, improve cognition deficits induced by smoke. This study suggests that the dietary compound Cur may be involved in cholinergic system modulation and as a consequence exert an effect on learning and memory.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Departamento de Química, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica Toxicológica, Laboratório de Enzimologia Toxicológica, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Campus Universitário, Camobi, Prédio 18, Sala 2208, 97105-900, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jeandre Augusto dos Santos
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Jaques
authors.forename: João Felipe Peres
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Rezer
authors.forename: Fabiano Barbosa
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Michelle Melgarejo
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: da Rosa
authors.forename: Jessié Martins
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gutierres
authors.forename: Jamile Fabbrin
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schmatz
authors.forename: André Valle
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: de Bairros
authors.forename: Cinthia Melazzo
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Mazzanti
authors.forename: Maribel Antonello
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rubin
authors.forename: Maria Rosa Chitolina
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Schetinger
authors.forename: Daniela Bitencourt Rosa
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Leal
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D003474:Curcumin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D003474:Curcumin