Curcuminoids, Curcumin, and Demethoxycurcumin Reduce Lead-Induced Memory Deficits in Male Wistar Rats

Abstract

This study investigated the neuroprotective effects of the curcuminoids against lead-induced neurotoxicity. The results show that lead significantly increases lipid peroxidation and reduces the viability of primary hippocampal neurons in culture. This lead-induced toxicity was significantly curtailed by the co-incubation of the neurons with the curcuminoids. In a whole animal experiment, rats were trained in a water maze and thereafter dosed with lead and/or curcumin (CURC), demethoxycurcumin (DMC), or bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC) for 5 days. Animals treated with curcumin and demethoxycurcumin but not bisdemethoxycurcumin had more glutathione and less oxidized proteins in the hippocampus than those treated with lead alone. These animals also had faster escape latencies when compared to the Pb-treated animals indicating that CURC- and DMC-treated animals retain the spatial reference memory. The findings of this study indicate that curcumin, a well-established dietary antioxidant, is capable of playing a major role against heavy metal-induced neurotoxicity and has neuroprotective properties.

Inhibition of Nicotine Dependence by Curcuminoid Is Associated with Reduced Acetylcholinesterase Activity in the Mouse Brain

“…In vitro experiments also confirmed that curcumin inhibits AChE activity and has an IC 50 value of 67 µmol/L [54]. The strongest AChE inhibition was found using bisdemethoxycurcumin; a single dose of 30 µmol/L of bismethoxy curcumin, dimethoxy curcumin, or curcumin inhibits 85, 55, or 31% of AChE activity respectively [55]. Additionally, a molecular docking study shows curcumin interacts with actives site of AChE on amino acids (Tyr133, Glu202, Phe295, and Tyr337) to disrupt the activity of AChE [56].…”

Multi‐targeted therapy by curcumin: how spicy is it?

“…30 min after focal cerebral ischemia/ reperfusion in rats significantly diminished infarct volume, improved neurological deficit, decreased mortality, and reduced the water content of the brain [52]. Similarly, in another recent study, curcumin significantly inhibited heavy metal-induced neurotoxicity in rats [53].…”

Specific Inhibition of NEIL-initiated Repair of Oxidized Base Damage in Human Genome by Copper and Iron

“…Curcumin protects PC12 cells against apoptosis induced by a lethal dose of H 2 O 2 and 1-methyl-4-phenylpiriinium ion (MPP ϩ )-induced apoptosis (73). Recent studies have suggested that curcumin significantly reduces metal-induced neurotoxicity in rat hippocampal neurons (74,75). It was proposed that the ability of curcumin to bind toxic metals and to form tight and inactive complexes could be a plausible pathway by which curcumin offers protection to the brain (76).…”