Curcumin attenuates aluminium-induced functional neurotoxicity in rats

Curcumin is a polyphenol extracted from the rhizome of Curcuma longa and well known as a multi-functional drug with antioxidative, anti-cancerous and anti-inflammatory activities. Curcumin's antiageing and neuroprotective potential is widely reported, In the present study, effect of curcumin treatment dose 30 mg kg(-1) day(-1) was investigated against aluminium neurotoxicity in young and old animals. Direct and indirect intakes of aluminium have been reported to be involved in the etiology of several neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Long term Al was administered through drinking water at a dose of 50 mg/kg/day for 6 months in both young (4 months) and old (18 months) male Wistar rats. Result obtained demonstrates that curcumin treatment attenuates the Al-induced alterations at biochemical, behavioral and ultrastructural levels which was well reflected in the electrophysiological recordings. Our results indicate that curcumin's ability to bind redox active metals and cross the blood-brain barrier could be playing crucial role in preventing against Al-induced neurotoxicity. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.