No abstract

Erythrocytic lipid peroxidation, activities of some antioxidant enzymes and osmotic fragility of red blood cells was studied in adult (>1 year) crossbred cattle naturally infected with Theileria annulata. Twenty clinically healthy animals (group I) and 15 clinical cases (group II) of tropical theileriosis were selected. Cattle suffering from theileriosis had significantly higher (p<0.01) erythrocytic lipid peroxidation and osmotic fragility. Activities of antioxidant enzymes, viz. glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and glutamate peroxidase (GPx) were also significantly increased (p<0.01) in group II. However, superoxide dismutase and catalase did not show significant changes. The results indicated that infection with theileria led to increased oxidative stress to the animals, and even a significant rise in the activities of antioxidant enzymes. G6PD and GPx could not lower this oxidative stress. However, the increase in the activities of antioxidant enzymes pointed towards the body's defence mechanism against lipid peroxidation during oxidative stress in theileriosis.

Cadmium (Cd) is one of the hazardous heavy metals as it causes various forms of physiological and hormonal imbalances. The aim of the present study was to investigate pharmacological effects of curcumin, a derivative of Curcuma longa Linn., in the prevention of oxidative stress induced by CdCl 2 on the thyroid gland of albino rats. In this study, rats were divided into 5 groups (n=5). Group 1 rats kept as control. Group 2 rats administered a single oral dose of 50mg/kg body weight of CdCl 2 on day 1 and left for 30 days. Group 3 rats were given an oral dose of 150mg/kg body weight of curcumin daily for 30 days and kept as a positive control. Group 4 rats, acted as a post-treated group, administered a single oral dose of 50mg/kg body weight of CdCl 2 on day 1 and 150mg/ kg body weight of curcumin daily for the next 30 days. Group 5 rats, acted as a pretreated group, were given an oral dose of 150mg/kg body weight of curcumin daily for 30 days and 50 mg/kg body weight of CdCl 2 on last day. In rats, acute CdCl 2 treatment caused increased oxidative stress, decreased SOD, CAT and irregularities in normal levels of serum hormones (T3, T4, and TSH). In curcumin supplemented rats, level of Cd-induced lipid peroxidation was significantly lowered, the activity of SOD and CAT were significantly increased and improved serum hormone levels were noticed, which shows that curcumin to some degree could alleviate the toxic effects of CdCl 2 .

The purpose of our study was to evaluate the preventive effects of supplementation with curcumin (Cur) on Cadmium (Cd) induced testicular damage. Young male Wistar albino rats were divided into five groups; Control, Cd, Cur, Cd+Cur, pre-Cur+Cd. Rats were administered an acute dose of CdCl2 at a concentration of 50 mg/kg bw and Cur at 150 mg/kg bw for 15 days. The activities of the stress indicating enzymes (SOD, CAT) and MDA content as a result of LPO along with the total tissue protein and cholesterol were assessed in the testicular homogenate of rats. A significant reduction in the activities of SOD and CAT with parallel significant upsurge in MDA accompanied by a significant reduction in total tissue protein content and a significant rise in tissue cholesterol was observed in rat testes. Also, the reduction in the testicular weights along with a decline in testosterone concentration was detected. Further, Cur supplementation with Cd significantly upturned the Cd-induced variations in oxidative stress indicating enzymes and amended the testosterone levels, total testicular protein, and cholesterol content. Therefore, it can be concluded that Cur plays a protective role against testicular toxicity produced by a single dose of CdCl2.