ANTAGONISTIC EFFECT OF CURCUMIN ON SODIUM ARSENITE INDUCED DNA DAMAGE IN MICE

AIM To investigate the antagonistic effect of curcumin on DNA damage in immune organsin vivo induced by sodium arsenite (NaAsO_2). METHODS Male ICR mice were given curcumin 2, 20 and 200 mg·kg~ -1 for 14 days before treatment with sc injection of NaAsO_2 at the dose of 10 mg·kg~ -1. After injection, the mice were sacrificed at the end of 1 and 3 hours. DNA strand breaks were detected in the splenocyte, thymocyte and marrow cells through single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE). RESULTS Curcumin was shown to inhibit DNA strand breaks induced by NaAsO_2 in a dose-dependent manner. It was found that curcumin 20 and 200 mg·kg~ -1 could reduce the DNA strand breaks induced by NaAsO_2 1 hour after treatment in cells from spleen. The percent of “comet” cell was decreased. Curcumin 20 and 200 mg·kg~ -1 treatment was shown to reduce the DNA strand breaks induced by NaAsO_2 three hours after treatment in cells from thymus and bone marrow. CONCLUSION Curcumin can prevent the DNA strand breaks induced by NaAsO_2 in cells from spleen, thymus and bone marrowin vivo.