Turkish Neurosurgery 2017 , Vol 27 , Num 4
Is Chronic Curcumin Supplementation Neuroprotective Against Ischemia for Antioxidant Activity, Neurological Deficit, or Neuronal Apoptosis in an Experimental Stroke Model?
Serdar ALTINAY1,Murat CABALAR2,Cihan ISLER3,Funda YILDIRIM4,Duygu S. CELIK5,Oguzhan ZENGI6,Abdurrahim TAS7, Ahmet GULCUBUK4
1Selcuk University, Medical Faculty, Department of Pathology, Konya, Turkey
2Ministry of Health, Health Science University, Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, Department of Neurology, Istanbul,Turkey
3Istanbul University, Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty, Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul, Turkey
4Istanbul University, Istanbul Veterinary Faculty, Department of Pathology, Istanbul, Turkey
5Ministry of Health, Health Science University, Bagcilar, Training and Research Hospital, Experimental Research Center, Istanbul,Turkey
6Ministry of Health, Health Science University, Bagcilar, Training and Research Hospital, Department of Biochemistry, Istanbul, Turkey
7Ministry of Health, Health Science University, Bagcilar, Training and Research Hospital, Department of Neurology, Istanbul, Turkey
DOI : 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.17405-16.0 AIM: To investigate the neuroprotective effect of chronic curcumin supplementation on the rat forebrain prior to ischemia and reperfusion.

MATERIAL and METHODS: Forebrain ischemia was induced by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion for 1/2 hour, followed by reperfusion for 72 hours. Older rats were divided into five groups: Group I received 300 mg/kg oral curcumin for 21 days before ischemia and 300 mg/kg intraperitoneal curcumin after ischemia; Group II received 300 mg/kg intraperitoneal curcumin after ischemia; Group III received 300 mg/kg oral curcumin for 21 days before ischemia; Group IV had only ischemia; Group V was the sham-operated group. The forebrain was rapidly dissected for biochemical parameter assessment and histopathological examination.

RESULTS: In forebrain tissue, enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase were significantly higher in Group I than Groups II or III (p<0.05) while xanthine dehydrogenase and malondialdehyde enzyme activities and concentrations of interleukin-6 and TNF-alpha were significantly lower in Group I when compared to Groups II and III (p<0.05). A significant reduction in neurological score was observed after 24 and 72 hours in the curcumin-treated groups compared with the ischemic group. We also found a marked reduction in apoptotic index after 72 hours in the groups receiving curcumin. Significantly more TUNEL-positive cells were observed in the ischemic group compared to those treated with curcumin.

CONCLUSION: We demonstrated the neuroprotective effect of chronic curcumin supplement on biochemical parameters, neurological scores and apoptosis following ischemia and reperfusion injury in rats. Keywords : Curcumin, Ischemia, Stroke, Neuroprotective effect, Oxidative stress

Corresponding author : Serdar Altınay, drserdara@yahoo.com