Turmeric extract inhibits apoptosis of hippocampal neurons of trimethyltin-exposed rats.
The aim of the present study was to reveal the possible antiapoptotic effect of turmeric (Curcuma longa Linn.) on the hippocampal neurons of rats exposed to trimethyltin (TMT).



Oxidative damage in the hippocampus can induce the apoptosis of neurons associated with the pathogenesis of dementiaMETHODS. The ethanolic turmeric extract and a citicoline (as positive control) solution were administered to the TMT-exposed rats for 28 days. The body weights of rats were recorded once a week. The hippocampal weights and imumunohistochemical expression of caspase 3 proteins in the CA1 and CA2-CA3 regions of the hippocampi were examined at the end of the experiment.



Immunohistochemical analysis showed that the injection of TMT increased the expression of caspase 3 in the CA1 and CA2-CA3 regions of hippocampus. TMT also decreased the body and hippocampal weights. Furthermore, the administration of 200 mg/kg bw dose of turmeric extract decreased the caspase 3 expression in the CA2-CA3 pyramidal neurons but not in the CA1 neurons. It also prevented the decrease of the body and hippocampal weights.



We suggest that the 200 mg/kg bw dose of turmeric extract may exert antiapoptotic effect on the hippocampal neurons of the TMT-exposed rats (Tab. 1, Fig. 3, Ref. 49).
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Yuliani
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Widyarini
Mustofa
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Partadiredja
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D030024:Curcuma; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D009929:Organ Size; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014298:Trimethyltin Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014298:Trimethyltin Compounds; C046488:trimethyltin; C012596:turmeric extract; C505410:Casp3 protein, rat; D053148:Caspase 3
caspase 3 immunohistochemistry.; hippocampus; trimethyltin; turmeric