Curcumin protection activities against γ-rays-induced molecular and biochemical lesions.
BACKGROUND
Curcumin is a yellow-pigment phenolic compound used as a food spice and has a broad spectrum of antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic, anti-mutagenic and anti-inflammatory properties.


METHODS
Radio-protective efficacy of curcumin; diferuloylmethane (C21H20O6) was evaluated using molecular and biochemical assays in male mice after exposure to 3 Gy γ-rays. Curcumin was given at a dose of 400 μmol/ kg body weight via gastric tubes for 5 following days either pre-, post- or both pre- and post-exposure.


RESULTS
The incidence of aberrant cells and aberration types (mostly chromatids, breaks and fragments) was reduced with curcumin dosage as compared to irradiated group. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), hydroperoxide (HP), xanthine oxidase (XO) and apoptotic markers (DNA- fragmentation and caspase-3 activation) were increased significantly, whereas levels of glutathione (GSH) and the enzymatic antioxidants [Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)] were significantly depleted in γ-irradiated mice. Curcumin treatments of mice groups including the 5 days pre-irradiation treated group (protected), the 5 days post-irradiation treated group (treated), and the curcumin treated group 5 days pre- and post-irradiation (protracted), have attenuated the liver toxic effects of γ-rays as manifested by reducing the levels of TBARS, HP, XO and DNA fragmentation. Curcumin has also rescued the depletion of GSH and the enzymatic-antioxidant status.


CONCLUSIONS
Curcumin has significant radio-protective and radio-recovery activities in γ-irradiated mice. It has antioxidant potential against γ-rays-induced cytogenetic, molecular and biochemical lesions in mice.
Molecular Biology Department, National Research Centre, P, O, Box: 33211, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt. yassershahein_nrc@yahoo.com.
Sameh S
SS
Tawfik
Amira M
AM
Abouelella
Yasser E
YE
Shahein
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D005720:Gamma Rays; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase / Q000378:metabolism
D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase; D053148:Caspase 3; D005978:Glutathione; D003474:Curcumin