title: Protective effects of curcumin against genotoxicity induced by 131-iodine in human cultured lymphocyte cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  131-radioiodine has been widely used as an effective radionuclide for treatment of patients with thyroid diseases. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the radioprotective effects of curcumin as a natural product that protects against the genotoxic effects of (131)I in human cultured lymphocytes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Whole blood samples from human volunteers were incubated with curcumin at doses of 5, 10, and 50 μg/mL. After 1-hour incubation, the lymphocytes were incubated with (131)I (100 μCi/1.5 ml) for 2 hours. The lymphocyte cultures were then mitogenically stimulated to allow for evaluation of the number of micronuclei in cytokinesis-blocked binucleated cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Incubation of lymphocytes with (131)I at dose 100 μCi/1.5 mL induced genotoxicity shown by increase in micronuclei frequency in human lymphocytes. Curcumin at 5, 10, and 50 μg/mL doses significantly reduced the micronuclei frequency. Maximal protective effects and greatest decrease in micronuclei frequency were observed when whole blood was incubated with 50 μg/mL dose of curcumin with 52%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study has important implications for patients undergoing (131)I therapy. Our results indicate a protective role for curcumin against the genetic damage and side effects induced by (131)I administration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
authors.forename: Nayereh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shafaghati
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
authors.forename: Monireh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hedayati
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Jalal
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hosseinimehr
keywords: 131I; Curcumin; genotoxicity; micronucleus; radioiodine