Abstract

PROTECTIVE EFFECTOF CURCUMA AROMATICA AGAINST NICOTINE-INDUCED OXIDATIVE STRESS IN THE FEMALE RATS

N. Poonkodi* and V. Elango

Abstract

Oxidative stress (OS) has been considered a major contributory factor to the infertility. Oxidative stress is the result of imbalance between the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidants in the body which can lead to damage to oocytes in developing follicles, or the embryo in the fallopian tube. The protective effect of Curcuma aromatica (100 mg/kg bw /day) against ovarian and uterine oxidative stress induced by subcutaneous injection of nicotine (4mg/kg bw/day), was studied. After 30 days of nicotine treatment increased production of malondialdehyde in the nicotine-treated group which was accompanied by marked alterations in the levels of activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, GPx and GST. Compared to nicotine alone, the combined treatment of nicotine with Curcuma aromatica significantly lowered the level of lipid peroxides and enhanced the antioxidant status. The group of rats given Curcuma aromatica without exposure to nicotine exhibited no significant changes in the above indices. Thus the results from this study showed that Curcuma aromatica exerted a protective action against nicotine-induced oxidative stress and disturbance of ovarian and uterine functions in the rat.

Keywords: Nicotine, ovary toxicity; Curcuma aromatica, ovarian and uterine oxidative stress.