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Antioxidant Effect of Curcumin Against Microcystin- LR-Induced Renal Oxidative Damage in Balb/c Mice
Al-Jassabi, Saad; Ahmed, Khaled Abdul-Aziz & Abdulla, Mahmood Ameen
Abstract
Purpose: To investigate the effect of curcumin on microcystin-LR (MC-LR)- induced renal oxidative
damage in Balb/c mice.
Methods: 40 male Balb/c mice were assigned randomly to 4 groups each having 10 mice. One group
served as normal (saline treated) while another group was used as curcumin control. The third group
was given MC-LR and used as toxin control. The fourth group was pre-treated with curcumin (300 mg/kg
body wt) given orally once daily for 14 days before interperitoneal injection (i.p) of MC-LR (75 μg/kg
body wt). Biochemical assays including serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), urinary glucose,
gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and catalase (CAT) levels were measured. Renal biochemical tests
such as protein carbonyl contents and DNA-protein cross-links, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px)
activity, glutathione (GSH) and lipid hydroperoxide (LOOH) were evaluated.
Results: Serum creatinine, BUN, urinary glucose, GGT increased in mice treated with MC-LR, while
creatinine clearance decreased compared to controls (p < 0.001), indicating occurrence of tubular
damage. There was increased protein carbonyl content and DNA-protein cross-links in the kidney
homogenates of these mice. Curcumin administration significantly reversed these effects and attenuated
the MC-LR-induced reduction in the activities of CAT, GPH-Px, GSH as well as the MC-LR-induced
increases in plasma and kidney lipid hydroperoxide.
Conclusion: These results indicate that curcumin possesses natural antioxidant properties that renders
it a potent protective agent against renal oxidative damage mediated by microcystin-LR.
Keywords
Antioxidants, Curcumin, Microcystin, Renal oxidative damage
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