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Journal of Chinese Pharmaceutical Sciences ›› 2017, Vol. 26 ›› Issue (3): 196-201.DOI: 10.5246/jcps.2017.03.020

• Original articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Antioxidant activity of curcumine as protector on methylmercury induced-pancreas damage in mice

Sri Agus Sudjarwo1*, Koerniasari Eraiko2, Giftania Wardani Sudjarwo3, Koerniasari4   

  1. 1. Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Airlangga University, Surabaya 60115, Indonesia
    2. Department of Conservative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Airlangga University, Surabaya 60115, Indonesia
    3. Faculty of Pharmacy, Hang Tuah University, Surabaya 60115, Indonesia
    4. Study Program of Environmental Health, Polytechnic of Health, Surabaya 60115, Indonesia
  • Received:2016-12-12 Revised:2017-01-30 Online:2017-03-30 Published:2017-02-15
  • Contact: Tel.: +62-31-5992785, Fax:+62-31-5993015, E-mail: ags158@yahoo.com

Abstract:

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.

Key words: Curcumin, Methylmercury, Glucose, Insulin, MDA, SOD, GPx

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