• Curcumin ameliorates cisplatin-induced pancreas toxicity in diabetic rats
  • Nilufar Lotfian,1,* Zeinab Shafiei,2 Dian Dayer,3 Vahid Bayati,4 Esrafil Mansouri,5
    1. Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Medical Basic Sciences Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
    2. Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Medical Basic Sciences Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
    3. Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Medical Basic Sciences Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
    4. Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Medical Basic Sciences Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
    5. Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Medical Basic Sciences Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran


  • Introduction: Cisplatin therapy as the most common potent chemotherapeutic process is accompanied by side effects. Inflammatory mechanisms may play an important role in the pathogenesis of Cisplatin- induced pancreas toxicity in diabetic rats. Curcumin is an orange-yellow polyphenol present in curry spice and has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. The current study was planned to investigate the effect of Curcumin on CP-induced pancreas toxicity in Streptozocin (STZ)- induced diabetic rats.
  • Methods: A total of 32 normal male rats were chosen and randomly divided into four groups: Group A or control received no treatment, Group B received STZ, Group C received STZ + Cisplatin, and Group D received STZ + Cisplatin + Curcumin. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (60 mg/kg). Rats were given one dose of 7 mg/kg Cisplatin intraperitoneally. Curcumin treatment involved one dose of 200 mg/kg Curcumin injection intraperitoneally. Serum and tissue samples were harvested for biochemical, and histopathological investigations. The concentration of Glucose and the Lipase and Catalase activities were determined using the photometric method. The Amylase and glutathione peroxidase enzyme activities were evaluated in a kinetic manner. The levels of IL-1β and IL-6 were measured by ELISA. The contents of MDA and SOD were calculated using a fluorometry assay.
  • Results: Cisplatin administration in diabetic rats resulted in significantly elevated serum levels of blood Glucose, Amylase and Lipase (P<0.05). Coadministration of Cisplatin and Curcumin had an important reducing effect on Glucose, amylase and lipase compared to the rats treated with Cisplatin alone (P<0.01). The diabetic rats treated with Cisplatin presented significantly elevated levels of MDA(P<0.01). Curcumin ameliorated the elevated levels of MDA (P<0.01). Moreover, Curcumin-therapy resulted in elevated levels of Superoxide dismutase, Catalase, and Glutathione peroxidase enzyme activities (P<0.05). A noticeable elevation in TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β levels was observed following Curcumin administration in diabetic rats (P<0.001). The results of histopathological experiments confirmed the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects the Curcumin in diabetic rats.
  • Conclusion: This study highlights the potential role of Curcumin against Cisplatin-induced toxicity in diabetic rats, exhibited through favourable alterations in biochemical and histological changes as well as a reduction in oxidative stress and cytokine levels.
  • Keywords: Cisplatin, Streptozocin, Diabetes, Curcumin