Hormetic effects of curcumin on oxidative stress injury induced by trivalent arsenic in isolated rat hepatocytes.

Objective: Arsenic (As) poisoning is a worldwide public health problem. Arsenic can cause cancer, diabetes, hepatic problems, etc. Hence, we investigated possible hepatoprotective properties of curcumin against As³⁺-induced liver damages in freshly isolated rat hepatocytes.

Materials and methods: Isolation of hepatocytes was done by the two-step liver perfusion method using collagenase. The EC₅₀ concentration of As³⁺ was used in toxicity assessments and curcumin (2, 5, and 10 µM) was added 15 min before As³⁺ addition to isolated hepatocytes. Curcumin impact was assessed in terms of cytotoxicity, lipid peroxidation induction, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and mitochondrial membrane potential.

Results: As³⁺ significantly increased cytotoxicity, malondialdehyde and ROS levels and induced mitochondrial membrane damage and hepatocyte membrane lysis after 3 hr incubation. Curcumin 2 µM significantly prevented lipid peroxidation induction, ROS formation, and mitochondrial membrane damage; while curcumin 5 µM had no apparent effect on these parameters, curcumin 10 µM potentiated them.

Conclusion: Curcumin only at low doses could ameliorate oxidative stress injury induced by As³⁺ in isolated rat hepatocytes.