The effects of curcumin on arsenic induced oxidative damage in 3T3 embryonic fibroblast cells

This study was conducted to determine the oxidative damage caused by arsenic in 3T3 fibroblast cells and the possible protective role of curcumin against this damage. Today, due to increasing urbanization and industrialization, environmental pollution is also increasing. Environmental pollution, which can be caused by direct and indirect routes, affects all organisms and ecosystems through the food chain. One of the most important factors that cause environmental pollution is heavy metals. Arsenic, a heavy metal, is found on earth, soil, water and air and is used in the production of glass, semiconducting materials and agrochemicals. Arsenic is taken by the body through drinking water, food and respiration, and human are exposed to arsenic, especially through drinking water. Arsenic induces oxidative stress by stimulating the formation of reactive oxygen species in the cell. Antioxidants should be consumed in sufficient quantities to reduce oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen species and minimize the effect. Curcumin shows a strong antioxidant activity when compared to vitamin C and vitamin E. Curcumin reacts with various reactive oxygen species, including superoxide radicals and hydroxyl radicals, to remove free radicals from the cell and thus protect the cell from oxidative damage. Embryonic fibroblast cells were exposed to arsenic (0,01 μM, 0,1 μM, 1 μM and 10 μM concentrations) in the presence and absence of curcumin (2,5 μM) for 24 hour. Cell viability, cytotoxicity, antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase), lipid peroxidation, hydroxyl radical, hydrogen peroxide and amount of total protein were measured in 3T3 embryonic fibroblast cells. The result indicated that cell viability and antioxidant enzymes were decreased, while lipid peroxidation, hydroxyl radical, hydrogen peroxide, cytotoxicity were increased. This findings is indicate that arsenic directly affects antioxidant enzymes in 3T3 embryonic fibroblast cells and induces oxidative damage by increasing the amount of hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical and lipid peroxidation in the cell. Furthermore, curcumin has been shown to have a protective effect against the toxicity induced by arsenic.