Protective Effect of Curcumin on Anxiety, Learning Behavior, Neuromuscular Activities, Brain Neurotransmitters and Oxidative Stress Enzymes in Cadmium Intoxicated Mice

Abstract

<p class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-US">Cadmium (Cd) exposure can induce acute lethal health-related threats to humans since it has an exceptional ability to accumulate in living organisms and cause toxicological effects. </span><span lang="EN">Curcumin (Cur) on the other hand has a wide variety of biological activities and several animal studies have suggested for a potential therapeutic or preventive effects against several ailments and infections. To study the effect of Cur on the toxicity of Cd, sixty </span><span lang="EN-US">Swiss-Webster strain male mice were divided into 6 groups of ten each at random. Group-1 served as the na?ve control and received no treatment. Group-2, 3 and 4 were the experimental controls and were administered once a day with a single oral dose<i> </i>of 50% di</span><span lang="EN-US">methyl sulphoxide (DMSO),<i> </i>Cur (300 mg/kg) or Cd (100 mg/kg) respectively, for 2 weeks. Group-5 and 6 received Cur and Cd in combination once a day orally for 2 weeks except that Cur in a dose of 150 and 300 mg/kg to group 5 and 6 respectively, was administered one hour before Cd (100 mg/kg) administration to both groups. After treatment period, the animals were subjected to behavioral tests and thereafter, the animals were sacrificed for the estimation of neuro</span><span lang="EN-US">transmitters like serotonin (5-HT), dopamine (DA) and it’s metabolite 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) as well as oxidative stress enzymes like lipid peroxides in the form of thiobarbituric acid–reactive substances (TBARS) and total glutathione (GSH) in the forebrain tissue. Cd reduced significantly the body weight gain, the locomotor activ</span><span lang="EN-US">ity, anxiety behavior in the plus maze and the learning capability (cognitive effect) in the shuttle-box test. Biochemical analysis further revealed that Cd exposure significantly altered the brain neurotransmitters and the oxidative stress en</span><span lang="EN-US">zymes. However, administration of Cur along with Cd had an ameliorating effect on all the behavioral and biochemical parameters studied herein and reduced the toxicity of Cd significantly and dose-dependently. Thus, Cur may be benefi</span><span lang="EN-US">cial for anxiety, neuromuscular, and cognitive problems and protect from Cd intoxication.</span><span lang="EN-US"><?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p></o:p></span> </p

Effect of Chronic Administration of Cadmium on Anxiety-Like, Depression-Like and Memory Deficits in Male and Female Rats: Possible Involvement of Oxidative Stress Mechanism

“…Indeed, several studies have shown that exposure to Cd produces alterations in the serotonergic system, which may explain the anxiogenic and depressive effect of this metal observed in our study. A decrease in levels of 5-HT, dopamine in all regions of the brain including the anterior brain (hippocampus and striatum) has been shown 24 h after exposure to Cd [41] [42]. Decreased levels of 5-HT and 5-HIAA in the cortex and hippocampus in progeny was also observed following an exposure to low Cd concentrations in drinking water during the lactation period [43].…”

CURCUMIN ATTENUATES LEAD (Pb)–INDUCED NEUROBEHAVIORL AND NEUROBIOCHEMICAL DYSFUNCTION: A REVIEW

“…AChE activity was further determined using a colourimeter, and MDA and GSH levels were determined using a fluorometer in the whole cerebral cortex, striatum, cerebellum, brain minus cerebellum, midbrain and hippocampus. Lead exposure decreased GSH levels and increased lipid peroxidation in almost all tested parts of the brain [33].…”

“…It is belonging to the family Zingiberaceae [33]. Curcumin possesses numerous health benefits and is highly effective to treat various diseases, including anorexia, coryza, cough, hepatic diseases and sinusitis.…”

Are Environmental Contaminants Responsible for ‘Globesity’?

“…Many studies indicate the beneficial role of dietary antioxidants such as vitamins C and E, β-carotene, and selenium, as well as antioxidantrich plant extracts (e.g., green tea, blackberry extract) against heavy metals and other environmental pollutants [129][130][131][132]. In turn, the dietary intake of curcumin and its use as a nutritional supplement may have a potential for organism protection, inter alia, from cadmium intoxication and neurotransmitters dysfunction in the brain [79]. The n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are also dietary factors that have the potential to facilitate a reduction in body fat deposition [133].…”

“…The list of data describing the effects of Cd on the central neurotransmitter systems in mammals is rather poor. According to [79], exposure of male mice to Cd influences various behavioral activities as well as the levels of enzyme activities in the brain tissues of the experimental animals. Cadmium increases DA concentration in the striatum of rats as was shown by [80].…”