Effects of curcumin pretreatment on lipid peroxidation in lung injury induced by ischemia-reperfusion of hind limbs in rats

【Objective】 To investigate the effects of curcumin pretreatment on lipid peroxidation in lung injury induced by ischemia-reperfusion(I/R) of hind limbs in rats.【Methods】 Seventy-two adult male SD rats weighing 250～300 g were randomly divided into 6 groups(n =12 each): groupⅠ Sham operation(S);group Ⅱ I/R;group Ⅲ,Ⅳ,Ⅴ,Ⅵ(C50,C100,C200,C) received curcumin 50,100,200,200 mg/kg respectively via intraperitoneal injection 2 h before ischemia.I/R of hind limbs was produced by occlusion of bilateral femoral arteries for 2 h followed by 3 h reperfusion in group Ⅱ,Ⅲ,Ⅳ,Ⅴ.The animals were killed at the end of 3 h reperfusion and their arterial blood was taken for blood gas analysis.Lung tissues were immediately removed for pathologic examination and determination of Wet/dry weight(W/D) ratio.Lung tissues and plasma were also assessed respectively for malondialdehyde(MDA) content and superoxide dismutase(SOD) activity.【Results】 Alveolar edema,localized pulmonary atelectasis and large amount of PMN infiltration were found in I/R group and were ameliorated in the 3 curcumin groups(C50,C100,C200).Lung W/D ratio was significantly increased in I/R group as compared with sham operation group(P 0.01).Lung W/D ratio was significantly attenuated in the 3 curcumin groups(C50,C100,C200) as compared with I/R group(P 0.01).The I/R-induced decrease in PaO2 were significantly increased in the 3 curcumin groups(C50,C100,C200).In addition,3 curcumin groups(C50,C100,C200) markedly inhibited the decrease of SOD activity and increase of MDA content in plasma and lung tissue(P 0.05 or P 0.01) induced by I/R.【Conclusions】 Curcumin pretreatment has protective effects against lung injury induced by I/R of hind limbs through inhibition of lipid peroxidation.