Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of curcumin on acute lung injury in a rodent model of intestinal ischemia reperfusion by inhibiting the pathway of NF-Kb.

Objective: To investigate the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect of curcumin on lung lesion induced by intestinal ischemia reperfusion injury (IIR).

Methods: Rats were divided into four groups: sham, intestinal IIR (IIR), 1 mg/kg of curcumin treatment group (1 mg/kg), and 5 mg/kg of curcumin treatment group (5 mg/kg). Curcumin was given respectively (1 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg) following the above doses. IIR was produced by 1 h of intestinal ischemia followed by 2 h of reperfusion. Rats were sacrificed at the end of reperfusion and lung tissues were collected for biochemical and histopathological examination in 4 groups. Lung tissues histology and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) protein were assayed. Serum IL-6, lung superoxide dismutase (SOD) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were measured. The expression level of NF-κB and ICAM-1 (including immunohistochemical analysis and western blot analysis) were also measured.

Results: Lung tissue injury induced by IIR was obviously observed through pathology and BALF protein. MPO activity, IL-6 level and ICAM-1 expression were significantly increased with the elevation of NF-κB, simultaneously, SOD activity was decreased. With Treatment of curcumin, pathology and BALF protein of lung tissue were improved clearly. Inflammatory indexes (MPO activity, IL-6 level and ICAM-1) were improved and antioxidant index (SOD activity) was enhanced paralleled with NF-κB.

Conclusions: Using curcumin effectively prevented IIR-induced lung injury. Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of curcumin could be observed by inhibiting the pathway of NF-κB.