Comparison of the Protective Effects of Curcumin and Nanocurcumin on Acrolein Induced Mitochondrial Toxicity Isolated from Rat Liver

Contact with acrolein rapidly reduces intracellular glutathione and its antioxidant capacity and causes mitochondrial dysfunction. The use of some polymeric nanocurcumin increases the stability of curcumin. In this study, the effect of these two, was investigated on acrolein-induced toxicity in mitochondria isolated from rat liver cells.

In this experimental study, male Wistar rats (weight, 180-200g), were used. Mitochondria obtained from rat liver, were exposed to different concentrations of curcumin and nanocurcumin, Then, they were exposed to toxic concentrations of acrolein and the mitochondrial viability, was evaluated in comparison with the non-protected group. Data were analyzed using one way ANOVA test.

In this study, curcumin and nanocurcumin did not show any significant difference in the mitochondria viability at all the concentrations, which is indicative of their non-toxic effect on mitochondria. However, curcumin and nanocurcumin at all concentrations have not been able to exert their protective effect on mitochondria in the presence of acrolein. Moreover, mitochondria can be considered as target organelles against the acute toxicity of acrolein. The mechanism of acrolein toxicity was such that curcumin and nanocurcumin could not exert their protective effects against mitochondrial toxicity of acrolein.

The results of this study showed that since the mechanisms of different toxins are different, they have different effects on various toxicities of protective agents and not every protective agent can exert its effects against all toxins.