Ameliorative effect of Curcumin on sodium arsenite-induced uterine-ovarian toxicity in rats: An in vivo dose dependent manner

Arsenic is a deadly poison that affects millions of people world-wide. Inorganic arsenic exposure results in a variety of health problems, including skin lesions, hypertension, haematological instability, female and reproductive problems and cancer. Curcumin a significant phenolic compound, has a variety of pharmacological actions, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and free radical scavenging properties. The present study investigated effects of Curcumin at different doses against sodium arsenite (SA)-induced uterine-ovarian and hemato-toxicity. Thirty (30) Female Wister rats were randomly assigned into five groups of six rats each. Group 1 received normal water and Group II rats were given the sodium arsenite ($10 \mathrm{mg} / \mathrm{Kg} \mathrm{BW}$) orally for 8 days. Animals in Group-III, Group-IV and Group-V were treated sodium arsenite with curcumin at the different doses of Cur ($15 \mathrm{mg} / \mathrm{Kg}$ BW, ($20 \mathrm{mg} / \mathrm{Kg}$ BW) and $25 \mathrm{mg} / \mathrm{Kg}$ BW) respectively for 8 days. Here the most effective doses at Curcumin (20 mg and $25 \mathrm{mg} / \mathrm{Kg}$ BW) significantly improved SA induced uterine lipid peroxidation state and ROS generation by the re-establishment of Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities. Furthermore, Curcumin improved SA-induced steroidogenesis activities, alteration in haematological and histopathological parameters by controlling LH, FSH and estradiol levels and reduced SAinduced elevation of serum LDH activity. Our results suggest that Curcumin at the doses at Curcumin (20 mg and $25 \mathrm{mg} / \mathbf{K g}$ BW) inhibits SA-induced uterine-ovarian- and hematotoxicity through reducing oxidative stress.