Evaluation of Turmeric (Curcuma longa) effects in preventing consequences of lead acetate in male rats

Diabetes is one of the mortality factors in the world. Nutritional and environmental pollution with heavy metals, especially lead, exacerbates diabetic condition. The curcumin in Turmeric has antioxidant properties and therapeutic effects on the treatment of some diseases such as diabetes. In an interventional experiment designed to investigate the protective effect of turmeric powder on consequences of lead acetate on some blood parameters in the diabetic male rats, 32 male Wistar rats with an average initial weight of 182.6±1.8 g each were randomly divided into four groups, i.e. the control, diabetic (streptozotocin injection in dose of 55 ppm), diabetic+Pb (100 ppm solute in water), and diabetic+Pb+CL (2% of DMI). Trial period was 4 weeks. Blood samples from the heart of the rats were taken on the 29th day. Turmeric powder improved insulin secretion and reduced blood glucose. Total protein increased in CL treatment group. ALT, AST, triglyceride, and cholesterol significantly increased in diabetes treatment groups compared with the control. Probably the antioxidant compounds found in Turmeric especially curcumin can reduce some complications of lead acetate in diabetic patients.