Role of Curcumin in Modulating Plasma PON1 Arylesterase Activity and Susceptibility to LDL Oxidation in Oxidatively Challenged Wistar Rats

Curcumin (β-diketones diferuloylmethane), a biphenolic compound of Curcuma longa is reported to elicit a plethora of health protective effects. The present study was carried out to investigate the in vivo protective effect of curcumin (340 mg/kg b.w., oral) against HgCl2 induced oxidative stress in wistar rats. PON1 arylesterase activity, -SH value, and LDL oxidation susceptibility were determined in plasma of control, control+ curcumin, control+ HgCl2, HgCl2+ curcumin treated rats. Oxidative stress down-regulated PON1 activity, decreased -SH value and increased LDL oxidation susceptibility in plasma. Curcumin treatment significantly (p<0.05) increased PON1 activity, -SH value and reduced LDL oxidation susceptibility in healthy and HgCl2 treated rats. We show that curcumin protects PON1 activity, -SH value and LDL oxidation, and hypothesize that its supplementation may lower the incidence of those diseases where reduced PON1 activity and higher LDL oxidation is reported.