HPLC monitoring of curcumin in preventive and therapeutic treatment of rats to diminish acute inflammation and oxidative stress

Curcumin [1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,6- heptadiene--3,5-dione] is a phenolic substance derived from the root of the Curcuma longa L plant. It is used as antiproliferative, anti-invasive and antiangiogenic agent with anti-inflammatory functions, cancer chemopreventive activity and antioxidant properties. The aim of the study was to assess curcumin in rat plasma by HPLC with 425 nm UV detection at specified time intervals (15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180 minutes) in a treatment plan containing Curcumin in order to diminish acute muscular inflammation and oxidative stress. The concentration of curcumin in rat plasma was evaluated comparatively in a preventive plan (curcumin administration first, then induced inflammation) versus a therapeutic plan (induced inflammation followed by curcumin administration) on 6 adult female Wistar-Bratislava albino rats assigned to three groups. The HPLC results showed a decrease of curcumin concentration, with time, in all study groups. The statistical analysis (MANOVA) of the obtained data certified that the treatment plan applied to each group influenced the evolution of curcumin concentration in a significant way. A decrease in the amount of curcumin was noticed when inflammation occurred in the body, most probably determined by the accelerated metabolism in the presence of inflammation. The study of oxidative stress levels measured by the variables MDA and PC was performed in different rat tissues: muscle, liver and kidneys, for each study group and the highest results were registered in the muscle. The results obtained in both our research directions validated the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect of curcumin. Keywords: Curcumin, inflammation, HPLC, oxidative stress