Free and nanoencapsulated curcumin prevents cigarette smoke-induced cognitive impairment and redox imbalance

► Curcumin free and C-LNC prevented tobacco-induced cognitive impairment. ► Curcumin free and C-LNC prevented tobacco-induced decrease in the ATPases activities. ► Curcumin free and C-LNC protected against tobacco-induced redox imbalance. ► Curcumin free and C-LNC might be promising in the treatment of cognitive dysfunctions. ► Our data indicate that C-LNC may be an alternative to curcumin’s poor bioavailability. Cigarette smoke-exposure promotes neurobiological changes associated with neurocognitive abnormalities. Curcumin, a natural polyphenol, have shown to be able to prevent cigarette smoke-induced cognitive impairment. Here, we investigated possible mechanisms involved in curcumin protection against cigarette smoke-induced cognitive impairment and, due to its poor bioavailability, we investigated the potential of using curcumin-loaded lipid-core nanocapsules (C-LNC) suspension. Rats were treated with curcumin and cigarette smoke, once a day, 5days each week, for 30days. Animals were divided into ten groups: I, control (vehicle/corn oil); II, curcumin 12.5mg/kg; III, curcumin 25mg/kg; IV, curcumin 50mg/kg; V, C-LNC 4mg/kg; VI, tobacco exposed; VII, curcumin 12.5mg/kg along with tobacco exposure; VIII, curcumin 25mg/kg along with tobacco exposure; IX, curcumin 50mg/kg along with tobacco exposure; X, C-LNC 4mg/kg along with tobacco exposure. Cigarette smoke-exposure impaired object recognition memory (P