Indian Spice Curcumin may be an Effective Strategy to Combat the Genotoxicity of Arsenic in Swiss Albino Mice

Inorganic arsenic (As) is considered as a human carcinogen because it is associated with cancers of skin, lung,liver and bladder in exposed populations. Consumption of As contaminated ground water in the long term causesoxidative stress. Generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) beyond the body’s endogenous antioxidant balanceresults in severe imbalance of the cellular antioxidant defense mechanisms. The present study was conducted toinvestigate the antioxidative effects of curcumin against sodium arsenite (As III) induced oxidative damage inSwiss albino mice. Bio-monitoring with comet and micronucleus assays revealed that the increase in genotoxicitycaused by As III was counteracted when mice were orally administered 5, 10 or 15 mg curcumin per kg bodyweight daily. ROS generation, lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyl content, which were elevated by As III,were all reduced by curcumin treatment. Curcumin also exhibited protective action against the As III induceddepletion of antioxidants like catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx),glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and glutathione (GSH) in mouse liver tissue. Thusthe present work provides direct evidence for an involvement of curcumin in reducing As III induced oxidativestress in Swiss albino mice by virtue of its antioxidant potential and trapping of free radicals.