Drug Res (Stuttg) 2022; 72(02): 100-108
DOI: 10.1055/a-1647-2418
Original Article

Evaluation of Protective Effects of Curcumin and Nanocurcumin on Aluminium Phosphide‑Induced Subacute Lung Injury in Rats: Modulation of Oxidative Stress through SIRT1/FOXO3 Signalling Pathway

Mohammad Ali Mahlooji
1   Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Medicinal Plants and Natural Products Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
,
Ali Heshmati
2   Nutrition Health Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
,
Nejat Kheiripour
3   Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
,
Hassan Ghasemi
4   Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Abadan University of Medical Sciences, Abadan, Iran
,
Sara Soleimani Asl
5   Department of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
,
Ghasem Solgi
6   Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
,
1   Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Medicinal Plants and Natural Products Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
,
7   Razi Drug Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
› Author Affiliations

Funding This study was supported by a grant from Vice Chancellor of Research and Technology of Hamadan University of Medical Sciences (grant number: 9612228342).
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Abstract

Objective Aluminum phosphide (AlP) is widely used to protect stored food products and grains from pests and rodents. The availability of AlP, especially in Asian countries it has become a desirable factor to commit suicide. The phosphine produced from ALP is a very reactive radical and a respiratory inhibitor that causes oxidative damage. There is no dedicated antidote or effective drug to manage AlP-induced lung toxicity. The present study aims to evaluate and compare the protective effects of curcumin and nanocurcumin on ALP‑induced subacute lung injury and determine the underlying mechanism.

Methods Rats were exposed to AlP (2 mg/kg/day, orally)+curcumin or nanocurcumin (100 mg/kg/day, orally) for 7 days. Then rats were anesthetized and lung tissues were collected. Oxidative stress biomarkers, genes expression of antioxidant enzymes, participated genes in the SIRT1/FOXO3 pathway, and lung histopathology were assessed by biochemical and ELISA methods, Real-Time PCR analysis, and H&E staining.

Results Curcumin and nanocurcumin produced a remarkable improvement in AlP-induced lung damage through reduction of MDA, induction of antioxidant capacity (TAC, TTG) and antioxidant enzymes (CAT, GPx), modulation of histopathological changes, and up-regulation of genes expression of SIRT1, FOXO3, FOXO1 in lung tissue.

Conclusion Nanocurcumin had a significantly more protective effect than curcumin to prevent AlP-induced lung injury via inhibition of oxidative stress. Nanocurcumin could be considered a suitable therapeutic choice for AlP poisoning.



Publication History

Received: 10 August 2021

Accepted: 14 September 2021

Article published online:
06 October 2021

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