Antioxidant activity of curcumine as protector on methylmercury inducedpancreas damage in mice

Curcumin has been reported to have a strong antioxidant activity. In recent years, use of antioxidant in reducing heavy metal toxicities has been increased worldwide. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of curcumin on methylmercury-induced pancreas damage in mice. Briefly, 50 male mice were divided into five groups as follows: negative control(mice were given daily with aquadest); positive control(mice were orally given 2 mg/kg BW methylmercury daily for 35 d); and the treatment groups(mice were orally adminstered with curcumin 100 mg; 200 mg; 400 mg/kg BW daily for 35 d, and from 5th day, animals were given 2 mg/kg BW methylmercury daily 1 h after curcumin administration for 30 d). On day 35, levels of glucose, insulin, MDA, SOD and GPx were measured. Pancreas also was fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin solution for histopathological examination. The results revealed that methylmercury toxicity induced a significant increase in the levels of glucose and MDA. Moreover, a significant decrease in insulin, SOD and GPx levels was observed, and pancreas tissues showed degeneration and necrotic changes in the islets of Langerhans. Treatment with curcumin(400 mg/kg BW but not 200 mg/kg BW and 100 mg/kg BW) significantly(P<0.05) decreased glucose and MDA levels in pancreas in mercury-induced mice. Treatment with curcumin 400 mg/kg BW also significantly increased insulin, SOD and GPx levels and reversed the histopathological damage in methylmercury-induced mice. Taken together, curcumin could be a potent natural herbal product, which had pancreas protective effect against methylmercury-induced pancreas damage in mice.

Curcumin has been reported to have a strong antioxidant activity. In recent years, use of antioxidant in reducing heavy metal toxicities has been increased worldwide. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of curcumin on methylmercury- induced pancreas damage in mice. Briefly, 50 male mice were divided into five groups as follows： negative control （mice were given daily with aquadest）; positive control （mice were orally given 2 mg/kg BW methylmercury daily for 35 d）; and the treatment groups （mice were orally adminstered with curcumin 100 mg; 200 rag; 400 mg/kg BW daily for 35 d, and from 5~ day, animals were given 2 mg/kg BW methylmercury daily 1 h after curcumin administration for 30 d）. On day 35, levels of glucose, insulin, MDA, SOD and GPx were measured. Pancreas also was fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin solution for histopathological examination. The results revealed that methylmercury toxicity induced a significant increase in the levels of glucose and MDA. Moreover, a significant decrease in insulin, SOD and GPx levels was observed, and pancreas tissues showed degeneration and necrotic changes in the islets of Langerhans. Treatment with curcumin （400 mg/kg BW but not 200 mg/kg BW and 100 mg/kg BW） significantly （P〈0.05） decreased glucose and MDA levels in pancreas in mercury-induced mice. Treatment with curcumin 400 mg/kg BW also significantly increased insulin, SOD and GPx levels and reversed the histopathological damage in methylmercury-induced mice. Taken together, curcumin could be a potent natural herbal product, which had pancreas protective effect against methylmercury-induced pancreas damage in mice.