Ozbolat, GuluzarYegani, Arash Alizadeh2024-09-182024-09-1820211858-5051https://doi.org/10.18502/sjms.v16i4.9944https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12483/9309Background: Iron overload, common in patients with hematological disorders, is a key target in drug development. This study investigated the effects of curcumin on iron overload in rats. Methods: Forty male Wistar rats weighing 139.78 +/- 11.95 gm (Mean +/- SD) were divided into three equal groups: (i) controls; (ii) iron overload group that received six doses of iron dextran 1000 mg/kg(--1) by intraperitoneal injections (i.p.); and (iii) iron overload curcumin group that received six doses of curcumin (1000 mg/kg BW by i.p.). In addition to six doses of iron dextran 1000 mg/kg(--1) by i.p., we studied the effects of curcumin on liver function enzymes (alanine aminotransferase [ALT] and aspartate aminotransferase [AST]); antioxidant enzymes (malondialdehyde [MDA], total oxidant status [TOS], total antioxidant status [TAS]); hematological parameters (hemoglobin [Hb], hematocrit [Hct], red blood cells [RBC], white blood cells [WBC], mean corpus volume [MCV], mean corpuscular hemoglobin [MCH], mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration [MCHC]); and iron parameters (serum iron profile, transferrin, total iron-binding capacity [TIBC], ferritin, and transferrin saturation [TS%]). Results: Curcumin caused a significant decrease in the Hct and Hb concentrations in Group III (P < 0.05). It also significantly reduced the serum levels of ALT (52.45 +/- 4.51 vs 89.58 +/- 4.65 U/L) and AST (148.03 +/- 6.47 vs 265.27 +/- 13.02 U/L) at the end of the study (P < 0.05). The TIBC, transferrin levels, and TS significantly decreased when the rats were administered curcumin serum iron (P < 0.05). The TAS level significantly increased in Group III in comparison to Group I (the control group) (P < 0.05). At the end of the study, curcumin significantly reduced the serum levels of TOS (12.03 +/- 2.8 vs 16.95 +/- 5.05 mmol H2O2/L) while the TAS (1.98 +/- 0.42 vs 1.06 +/- 0.33 mmol Trolox equiv./L) was increased. Conclusion: The findings of the present study suggest the therapeutic potential of curcumin against iron overload.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccesscurcuminiron overloadTIBCTASTOSMDAEffects of Curcumin on Iron Overload in RatsArticle16446447510.18502/sjms.v16i4.9944WOS:000740361900004N/A