Modulatory effect of curcuma against chromium-induced oxidative stress

Chromium has long been identified as toxic environmental and industrial pollutants. The present study was under taken to investigate the potential effect of curcuma on toxicity induced by hexavalent chromium in male Wistar rats. Twenty-eight male rats were randomly divided into four equal groups. The first group: used as a control group. The second group: given diet with 2% curcuma powder. The third group: given 15mg/kg B.W of potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) per os, and the last group: given diet containing 2% curcuma powder and 15mg/kg B.W of K2Cr2O7 per os. The animals were in the same exposure conditions for 30 days. Organo-somatic indexes and glutathione (GSH) levels in studied organs were evaluated as well as the hematological profile. The results indicate that administration of chromium caused noticeable increase in all studied organo-somatic indexes when compared to control group. Whereas, decreased GSH content in organs of chromium-exposed rats was observed. Moreover, hematologic disorder was evidenced by significant decrease in plasma red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (CMH), and platelets along with significant increase in white blood cells, neutrophils, lymphocytes and monocytes when compared to control group. However, simultaneous treatment with curcuma and chromium corrected all the previous parameters. Data suggests that curcuma acts as powerful antioxidant, ameliorates physiological and hematologic indices along with oxidative stress biomarkers against chromium toxicity.