Mechanism of
curcumin for
protection of
endothelial cell was studied in cholesterolfed
rabbits. Thirty
rabbits were randomly divided into five groups. The negative
control group was fed a standard
diet, the positive
control group was fed the same
diet with 2 %
cholesterol , the
curcumin group was fed the same
diet with 2 %
cholesterol and
curcumin 100 mg/Kg BW/day, 200 mg/Kg BW/day or 400 mg/Kg BW/day. The
cholesterol-rich
diet significantly increased
Malondialdehyde (MDA) in the aortic
blood vessels, as reflected by Thiobarbituric
Acid-Reactive Substances (
TBARS), inhibited
endothelium-dependent vascular
relaxations to
acetylcholine and decrease
cyclic GMP were compared with vessels from normal
rabbits (negative control). In
cholesterol-fed
rabbits,
curcumin treatment decreased MDA in
plasma production, improved
endothelium - dependent
relaxations to
acetylcholine and increase
cyclic GMP production. These results suggest that dietary
treatment of
rabbits with
curcumin may prevent
superoxide anion (O2-) induced inactivation of
endothelium-dependent relaxing factor (EDRF), improve the
endothelium-dependent
relaxation to
acetylcholine in the aortic
blood vessels and increase
cyclic GMP content in aortic of
cholesterol-fed
rabbits.