The neuroprotective effect of treatment with curcumin in acute spinal cord injury: laboratory investigation.
The purpose of this study was investigating the effects of curcumin on the histological changes and functional recovery following spinal cord injury (SCI) in a rat model. Following either sham operation or SCI, 36 male Sprague-Dawley rats were distributed into three groups: sham group, curcumin-treated group, and vehicle-injected group. Locomotor function was assessed according to the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) scale in rats who had received daily intraperitoneal injections of 200 mg/kg curcumin or an equivalent volume of vehicle for 7 days following SCI. The injured spinal cord was then examined histologically, including quantification of cavitation. BBB scores were significantly higher in rats receiving curcumin than receiving vehicle (P < 0.05). The cavity volume was significantly reduced in the curcumin group as compared to the control group (P = 0.039). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was significantly elevated in the curcumin group as compared to the vehicle group but was not significantly different from the sham group (P < 0.05, P > 0.05, respectively) at one and two weeks after SCI. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly elevated in the vehicle group as compared to the sham group (P < 0.05 at 1 and 2 weeks). MDA activity was significantly reduced in the curcumin group at 2 weeks after SCI when compared to the vehicle group (P = 0.004). The numbers of macrophage were significantly decreased in the curcumin group (P = 0.001). This study demonstrated that curcumin enhances early functional recovery after SCI by diminishing cavitation volume, anti-inflammatory reactions, and antioxidant activity.
Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine.
Kyoung-Tae
KT
Kim
Myoung-Jin
MJ
Kim
Dae-Chul
DC
Cho
Seong-Hyun
SH
Park
Jeong-Hyun
JH
Hwang
Joo-Kyung
JK
Sung
Hee-Jung
HJ
Cho
Younghoon
Y
Jeon
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003474:Curcumin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D003474:Curcumin