ANTAGONISTIC EFFECT OF CURCUMIN ON SODIUM ARSENITE INDUCED DNA DAMAGE IN MICE

AIMTo investigate the antagonistic effect of curcumin on DNA damage in immune organs in vivo induced by sodium arsenite (NaAsO₂). METHODSMale ICR mice were given curcumin 2, 20 and 200 mg·kg^-1 for 14 days before treatment with sc injection of NaAsO₂ at the dose of 10 mg·kg^-1. After injection, the mice were sacrificed at the end of 1 and 3 hours. DNA strand breaks were detected in the splenocyte, thymocyte and marrow cells through single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE). RESULTSCurcumin was shown to inhibit DNA strand breaks induced by NaAsO₂ in a dose-dependent manner. It was found that curcumin 20 and 200 mg·kg^-1 could reduce the DNA strand breaks induced by NaAsO₂ 1 hour after treatment in cells from spleen. The percent of “comet” cell was decreased. Curcumin 20 and 200 mg·kg^-1 treatment was shown to reduce the DNA strand breaks induced by NaAsO₂ three hours after treatment in cells from thymus and bone marrow. CONCLUSIONCurcumin can prevent the DNA strand breaks induced by NaAsO₂ in cells from spleen, thymus and bone marrow in vivo.