Ameliorative effect of curcumin and ascorbic acid against ultraviolet B radiation-induced thyroid toxicity in female Wistar rats: A haematological and biochemical study

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the ameliorative effect of curcumin and ascorbic acid against ultraviolet (UVB)-induced thyroid toxicity and to study the haemtological and biochemical parameters. Twenty-four female Wistar rats, aged 3-4 months and weighing 130-150 g, were used, and the rats were divided into four Groups (Groups I to IV). Group I received standard food and water ad libitum and was treated as a control; Group II received a dose of 280 nm of UVB radiation for 2 hrs/day. Group III received 280 nm UVB radiation for 2 hrs/day and received curcumin 25 mg/kg body weight given orally. Group IV received 280 nm of UVB radiation for 2 hrs/day and received ascorbic acid 250 mg/kg body weight given orally. All the treatments were consequently performed for 15 days. The results showed that haemtological parameters such as haemoglobin (Hb) (p<0.05), red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), MCV, MCH, and MCHC decreased significantly. Biochemical parameters included lipid peroxidation (LPO) (p<0.05), H2O2 (p<0.01), nitric oxide (NO), superoxide dismutase (SOD) (p< 0.01), catalase (p<0.01), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) (p<0.01), and glutathione reductase. NO increased, and glutathione (GSH) (p<0.01) decreased significantly. However, cotreatment with curcumin and ascorbic acid significantly increased the haemtological parameters. In addition, oxidative parameters such as LPO (p<0.01), SOD (p< 0.01), CAT (p<0.01), GST (p<0.01), and NO (p<0.01) significantly increased, and GSH (p<0.01) significantly decreased upon cotreatment with curcumin and ascorbic acid. The results indicated the ameliorative effect of curcumin and ascorbic acid against UVB-induced thyroid toxicity in female Wistar rats.