title: Effect of curcumin against oxidation of biomolecules by hydroxyl radicals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Among various reactive oxygen species, hydroxyl radicals have the strongest chemical activity, which can damage a wide range of essential biomolecules such as lipids, proteins, and DNA.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to investigate the beneficial effects of curcumin on prevention of oxidative damage of biomolecules by hydroxyl radicals generated in in vitro by a Fenton like reaction.
  
  
  METHODS
  We have incubated the serum, plasma and whole blood with H2O2/Cu2+/ Ascorbic acid system for 4 hours at 37 0C and observed the oxidation of biomolecules like albumin, lipids, proteins and DNA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Curcumin at the concentrations of 50,100 and 200 μmoles, prevented the formation of ischemia modified albumin, MDA, protein carbonyls, oxidized DNA and increased the total antioxidant levels and GSH significantly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These observations suggest the hydroxyl radical scavenging potentials of curcumin and protective actions to prevent the oxidation of biomolecules by hydroxyl radicals.
authors.affiliation: Research Scholar, Department of Biochemistry, Frontier Lifeline Hospital , Mogappair, Chennai, India .
authors.forename: Sai Krishna
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Borra
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Periodontics, Meenakshi Ammal Dental College , Madhuravoyal, Chennai, India .
authors.forename: Jaideep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mahendra
authors.affiliation: Director - Research, Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research , West K.K. Nagar, Chennai, India .
authors.forename: Prema
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gurumurthy
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Meenakshi Ammal Dental College , Madhuravoyal, Chennai, India .
authors.lastname: Jayamathi
authors.affiliation: Research Scholar, Department of Biochemistry, Frontier Lifeline Hospital , Mogappair, Chennai, India .
authors.forename: Shabeer S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Iqbal
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Periodontology, Raja Muthaiah Dental college and Hospital , Annamalai University, Chidambaram, India .
authors.forename: Little
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mahendra
keywords: Biomolecules; Curcumin; Fenton reaction; Hydroxyl radical; Oxidation