title: The effect of curcumin on lung injuries in a rat model induced by aspirating gastrointestinal decontamination agents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aspiration is one of the most feared complications of gastrointestinal decontamination procedures with nonabsorbed polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution and activated charcoal (AC). We aimed to investigate the protective effects of curcumin (CUR) on lung injury in rats induced by aspiration of these agents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental rats were divided randomly into 6 groups (n = 7): a saline-aspirated control (group I), sterile saline aspirated with CUR treatment (group II), PEG aspirated (group III), PEG aspirated with CUR treatment (group IV), AC aspirated (group V), and AC aspirated with CUR treatment (group VI). After aspiration, treatment groups II, IV, and VI were given 150 mg/kg CUR intraperitoneally once a day for 7 days. After 7 days, the rats were humanely killed, and both the lungs and serum specimens from all groups were evaluated histopathologically, immunohistochemically, and biochemically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Aspiration of gastrointestinal decontamination agents produced histopathologic changes, elevated levels of malondialdehyde and surfactant protein D, reduced levels of antioxidant enzymes, and increased expression of inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor α. Curcumin treatments effectively attenuated the rats' pulmonary inflammation responses (as shown by reduced alveolar damage), decreased serum malondialdehyde and surfactant protein D levels, and inhibited the expressions of tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin-1β.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because of its anti-inflammatory effects, CUR treatment may have preventive effects on lung injuries induced by aspirating gastrointestinal decontamination agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun 55030, Turkey. mithatgunaydin@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Mithat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gunaydın
authors.forename: Aygul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guzel
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guzel
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alacam
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Salis
authors.forename: Naci
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Murat
authors.forename: Ayhan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gacar
authors.forename: Tolga
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Guvenc
mesh_terms: D055371:Acute Lung Injury / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002606:Charcoal; D003474:Curcumin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D011015:Pneumonia, Aspiration / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D053120:Respiratory Aspiration / Q000150:complications*; D012965:Sodium Chloride
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D015415:Biomarkers; D002606:Charcoal; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D003474:Curcumin