In situ protective effect of curcumin on cadmium chloride induced genotoxicity in bone marrow chromosomes of Swiss albino mice

Cadmium, is a highly toxic heavy metal, and is a known carcinogen, clastogen and a mutagen and it poses severe risk to human health. Humans are exposed to cadmium via variable modes i.e. through food and drinking water, by inhalation, cigarette smoking etc. It serves no physiological function within mammalian system. ATSDR (The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry) has listed cadmium as number 7 in its top 20 list of hazardous substances and International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified cadmium as a group 1 carcinogen. In contrast to the activity of cadmium, curcumin the yellow coloured polyphenolic super antioxidant derived from powdered rhizome of Curcuma longa is useful in various debilitating conditions. It is also recommended in cancer prevention and as a treatment adjunct in various diseases. Hence, the aim of the present experimental design was to assess the protective effect of curcumin on cadmium chloride induced genotoxicity in bone marrow chromosomes of Swiss albino mice. In the present experiment four batches of Swiss-albino mice were maintained. The experimental group was administered only single oral dose of cadmium chloride (50mg/kg/animal/day). The subsequent experimental group was administered curcumin (10mg/animal/day) for 15 days and on the 16th day cadmium chloride (50mg/kg/animal/day) was administered. For each experimental group a parallel control group was maintained. Two days after the administration of the last dose, mice were sacrificed and air-dried metaphase preparations were made and subsequently assessed for chromosomal damage. In animals treated with only cadmium chloride there was a significant decline in mitotic index. The aneugenic property of cadmium chloride was distinctly discernible, besides other chromosomal aberrations such as polyploidy terminal deletions and breaks were also observed. In comparison an elevation in mitotic index equivalent to normal group was discerned in animals pretreated with curcumin and subsequently treated with cadmium chloride and an overall decline in the mutation rate was also discernible clearly indicating the protective effect of curcumin.