Curcumin ameliorates aflatoxin-induced lipid-peroxidation in liver and kidney of mice.

The present investigation was an attempt to evaluate the ameliorative effect of curcumin on aflatoxin-induced lipid peroxidation in liver and kidney of mice. Aflatoxin was obtained by growing Aspergillus parasiticus in SMKY liquid medium. Pure curcumin (97% purity) was purchased from Hi-Media Laboratories Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, India. Young adult male albino mice were orally administered with low dose and high dose (750 and 1500 microg/kg body weight) with and without curcumin (2 mg/0.2 mL olive oil/animal/day) for 45 days. On 46th day the animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. Liver and kidney were removed and weighed. Homogenates were prepared for measuring lipid-peroxidation along with changes in catalase, superoixide dismutase, glutathione, glutathione-peroxidase and total ascorbic acid. The results revealed concentration dependent increase in lipid peroxidation along with reduction in enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants. Treatment with curcumin along with aflatoxin ameliorates aflatoxin-induced lipid peroxidation in liver and kidney of mice by ameliorating both enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants.