Effect of curcumin on aflatoxin-induced biochemical changes in testis of mice

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of curcumin on aflatoxin-induced biochemical changes in testis of mice. DESIGN: Controlled research laboratory study. SETTING: Aflatoxin was obtained by growing Aspergillus parasiticus in SMKY liquid medium. Pure curcumin (97% purity) was purchased from Hi-Media Laboratories Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, India. PATIENT(S): Young inbred, Swiss strain male albino mice (Mus musculus), weighing approximately 37-40 g, were obtained from Cadila Health Care, Ahmedabad, India. INTERVENTION(S): Aflatoxin was administered orally at 25 microg (low dose) and 50 microg (high dose)/0.2 mL olive oil/animal/day (750 and 1,500 microg/kg body weight), respectively, with and without curcumin for 45 days. On the 46th day the animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. Testis were removed and weighed. Homogenates were prepared for respective parameters such as protein, cholesterol, DNA, RNA, and 3beta- and 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Protein, cholesterol, DNA, RNA, 3beta- and 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity were measured immediately. RESULT(S): There was a dose-dependent effect of aflatoxin on testis of mice. Protein, cholesterol, DNA, RNA, and 3beta- and 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity were reduced significantly by the treatment of aflatoxin; cholesterol was increased. Treatment with curcumin along with aflatoxin ameliorates aflatoxin-induced biochemical changes in the testis of mice. CONCLUSION(S): Curcumin significantly ameliorates aflatoxin-induced biochemical changes in the testis of mice.