Comparative Effects of Curcumin and Its Analog on Alcohol- and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid-Induced Alterations in Circulatory Lipid Profiles

Venugopal P. Menon,Kode Aruna,Penumathsa Suresh Varma,Kallikat Narayanan Rajasekaran,Rajagopalan Rukkumani 한국식품영양과학회 2005 Journal of medicinal food Vol.8 No.2

Excessive alcohol intake induces hyperlipidemia. Studies suggest that natural principles and their analogs are known to possess anti-hyperlipidemic properties. In the present work we tested the effect of curcumin, an active principle of turmeric (Curcuma longa), and a curcumin analog on alcohol- and thermally oxidized polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)- induced hyperlipidemia. Male albino Wistar rats were used for the experimental study. Anti-hyperlipidemic activity of curcumin and curcumin analog was evaluated by analyzing the levels of cholesterol, triglycerides (TGs), phospholipids (PLs), and free fatty acids (FFAs). The results showed that the levels of cholesterol, TGs, PLs, and FFAs were increased significantly in alcohol-, PUFA-, and alcohol PUFA-treated groups, which were brought down significantly on treatment with either of the curcuminoids. Curcumin analog treatment was found to be more effective than curcumin treatment. From the results obtained, we conclude that both curcumin and its analog effectively protect the system against alcohol- and PUFA-induced hyperlipidemia and are possible candidates for the treatment of hyperlipidemia.

Effect of Photo-Irradiated Curcumin Treatment Against Oxidative Stress in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Venugopal P. Menon,M. Sri Balasubashini,T. Mahesh 한국식품영양과학회 2005 Journal of medicinal food Vol.8 No.2

Increasing evidence in both experimental and clinical studies suggests that oxidative stress plays a major rolein the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus. Although phenolic compounds attenuate oxidative stress-related damage, there areconcerns over toxicity of synthetic phenolic antioxidants, and this has considerably stimulated interest in investigating the roleof natural phenolics in medicinal application. In the present study, we examined the effect of photo-irradiated curcumin inexperimental diabetes to evaluate the anti-hyperglycemic properties of this compound on streptozotocin (40 mg/kg of bodyweight)-induced diabetes. Photo-irradiated curcumin was given at a dose of 10 or 30 mg/kg of body weight. The level ofblood glucose was elevated in diabetic animals. Circulatory lipid peroxidation, vitamin C, vitamin E, and enzymic antioxi-dants such as superoxide dismutase and catalase were analyzed. The antioxidant status decreased in diabetic animals. Oral ad-ministration of photo-irradiated curcumin for 45 days resulted in a significant decrease in the levels of blood glucose alongwith near-normalization of the enzymic activities and the levels of lipid peroxidative markers. The most effective results wereobtained on treatment with 30 mg/kg of body weight of photo-irradiated curcumin.

Modulatory Effects of Curcumin and Curcumin Analog on Circulatory Lipid Profiles During Nicotine-Induced Toxicity in Wistar Rats

Venugopal P. Menon,K.N. Rajasekharan,C. Kalpana 한국식품영양과학회 2005 Journal of medicinal food Vol.8 No.2

Nicotine, a major toxic component of cigarette smoke, plays a key role in the development of cardiovascular disease and lung cancer. In the present study, we have synthesized an analog of curcumin and biomonitored its influence over biochemical marker enzymes and lipid profiles on nicotine-induced toxicity in Wistar rats. The effects were compared with that of curcumin, a well-known antioxidant and anti-hyperlipidemic agent. Toxicity was induced by subcutaneous injection of nicotine at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg of body weight (5 days a week, for 22 weeks), and curcumin (80 mg/kg) was given simultaneously along with nicotine by intragastric intubation for 22 weeks. Measurements of activities of the biochemical marker enzymes aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, and lactate dehydrogenase and of plasma lipid profiles were used to monitor the anti-hyperlipidemic effects of curcuminoids. In nicotine-treated rats, enhanced plasma marker enzymes and lipid profiles were observed. Administration of curcumin or curcumin analog to nicotine-treated rats significantly reduced the activity of marker enzymes and plasma lipid levels. Thus, our findings suggest that curcumin and its analog exert an anti-hyperlipidemic effect against nicotine-induced lung toxicity and may be a promising agent for treatment of hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis

Expression Pattern of Matrix Metalloproteinases in Alcohol- and Thermally Oxidized Sunflower Oil-Induced Toxicity: Protective Role of an Aminothiazole Derivative

Venugopal P. Menon,Rajagopalan Rukkumani,Penumathsa Suresh Varma,Kode Aruna 한국식품영양과학회 2005 Journal of medicinal food Vol.8 No.2

The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of secreted and membrane-bound zinc endopeptidases.Collectively, these enzymes can degrade all of the components of the extracellular matrix including collagen, fibronectin,laminin, and basement membrane glycoproteins. Regulation in expression and activation of proteinases is one of the most im-portant mechanisms in organ morphogenesis. Fibrosis is a dynamic pathological process with a net accumulation of extra-cellular matrix proteins. In the present communication, we have investigated the changes that occur in the activity of liverMMPs in normal and in pathological conditions. The activity of MMPs was increased in thermally oxidized sunflower oil-and alcohol-treated groups, whereas the activity was decreased in the thermally oxidized oil. alcohol-fed group when com-pared with the normal control group. The activity was positively modulated when dendrodoine analogue [4-amino-5-benzoyl-2(4-methoxyphenylamino)thiazole] was administered along with ethanol and thermally oxidized oil, which indicates the pro-tective effect of this drug.

Ferulic Acid Inhibits 7,12-Dimethylbenz[α]anthracene-Induced Hamster Buccal Pouch Carcinogenesis

Subramanian Balakrishnan,Venugopal P. Menon,Shanmugam Manoharan 한국식품영양과학회 2008 Journal of medicinal food Vol.11 No.4

The aim of this study was to assess the chemopreventive efficacy of ferulic acid in 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis. We induced oral squamous cell carcinoma in the buccal pouch of male Syrian golden hamsters by painting with 0.5% DMBA in liquid paraffin three times a week for 14 weeks. The tumor incidence, tumor volume, and tumor burden that were formed in the hamster buccal pouch were determined. The activities of carcinogen detoxification agents and status of lipid peroxidation and antioxidants were also estimated by specific colorimetric methods. We observed 100% tumor formation in DMBA-painted animals. The status of carcinogen-detoxifying agents, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidants was significantly disrupted in DMBA-painted animals. Oral administration of ferulic acid at a dose of 40 mg/kg of body weight to DMBA-painted animals on days alternate to DMBA painting for 14 weeks significantly prevented the tumor incidence, tumor volume, and tumor burden. Ferulic acid exhibited potent anti-lipid peroxidative effects as well as the ability to modulate the status of carcinogen-detoxifying agents and antioxidants in DMBA-painted animals. Our results demonstrate that ferulic acid has potent chemopreventive and antioxidant functions in DMBA-induced hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis.

Inhibition of Nicotine-Induced Toxicity by Curcumin and Curcumin Analog: A Comparative Study

M. Amarnath Satheesh,Venugopal P. Menon 한국식품영양과학회 2004 Journal of medicinal food Vol.7 No.4

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of curcumin and curcumin analog on blood oxi-dantantioxidant status during nicotine-induced toxicity in male Wistar rats. Lung toxicity was induced by subcutaneous in-jection of nicotine at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg of body weight (5 days a week, for 22 weeks). The enhanced circulatory lipid per-oxides in nicotine-treated rats was accompanied by a significant decrease in the levels of ascorbic acid, vitamin E, reducedglutathione, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase. There was a reduction in the levels of zinc with anelevation of copper and ferritin in nicotine-treated rats. Administration of curcumin and curcumin analog significantly low-ered the lipid peroxidation and enhanced the antioxidant status with modulation in the levels of zinc, copper, and ferritin.However, the effect was more significant in curcumin analog-treated rats than in curcumin-treated rats. The results of the pres-ent study suggest that curcumin and curcumin analog exert their protective effects by modulating the extent of lipid peroxi-dation and enhancing the antioxidant status.