Possible protective effects of Curcumin against metal mixture-induced hematotoxicity in rats

Cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As), which are environmental pollutants, accumulate in the ecosystem and cause serious oxidative stress and multiple organ damage. Curcumin (CUR), natural polyphenolic agent derived from the root of the Curcuma longa plant, is potent anti-cancer agent that exhibits protective effects against oxidative damage. In our study, we investigated the possible protective and therapeutic effect of CUR, which has known antioxidant, against hematotoxicity caused by heavy metal mixture containing Cd-As. For this purpose, healthy Spraque-Dawley, 3-4 months old, 200-250 g weight, male rats were divided into 5 groups (n=6). Groups were respectively group I (control), group II(0.44+5.55 mg/kg Cd+As (HMM)), group III(100 mg/kg CUR), group IV (100mg/kg CUR+HMM), group V (200 mg/kg CUR+HMM). At the end of experiment, peripheral blood cells and bone marrow nucleated cells were counted in the blood count device, while antioxidant enzymes were evaluated in the serum of the rats, whose lives were terminated by intracardiac blood collection under anesthesia. It was understood that CUR (especially 200 mg/kg) was protective on stem cells, as it showed values close to the control group in terms of bone marrow nucleated cells and other peripheral blood values. Also CUR; primary endogenous antioxidant activities were used to demonstrate that HMM-induced damage can be prevented. Compared with the HMM group, higher SOD activity as well as the CAT and GPX data obtained from 100 and 200 mg/kg CUR+HMM, show the antioxidant capacity of CUR in blood. Our data provide evidence that CUR is natural antioxidant and potential agent.