Hormetic effects of curcumin on oxidative stress injury induced by trivalent arsenic in isolated rat hepatocytes

Arsenic (As) poisoning is a worldwide public health problem. Arsenic can cause cancer, diabetes, hepatic problems, etc. Hence, we investigated possible hepatoprotective properties of curcumin against As -induced liver damages in freshly isolated rat hepatocytes. Isolation of hepatocytes was done by the two-step liver perfusion method using collagenase. The EC concentration of As was used in toxicity assessments and curcumin (2, 5, and 10 µM) was added 15 min before As addition to isolated hepatocytes. Curcumin impact was assessed in terms of cytotoxicity, lipid peroxidation induction, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and mitochondrial membrane potential. As significantly increased cytotoxicity, malondialdehyde and ROS levels and induced mitochondrial membrane damage and hepatocyte membrane lysis after 3 hr incubation. Curcumin 2 µM significantly prevented lipid peroxidation induction, ROS formation, and mitochondrial membrane damage; while curcumin 5 µM had no apparent effect on these parameters, curcumin 10 µM potentiated them. Curcumin only at low doses could ameliorate oxidative stress injury induced by As in isolated rat hepatocytes.