Abstract
Background: 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.
Highlights
Iron is crucial for all living organisms, including humans and animals
This study aimed to investigate the effect of curcumin on iron overload in rats by measuring the activities of hematological parameters, Serum iron profile, transferrin, total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), transferrin saturation (TS%), total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), malondialdehyde (MDA), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT)
We examined the hematological parameters of all three groups
Summary
Iron is crucial for all living organisms, including humans and animals. It is required as a cofactor for a multitude of proteins with diverse biological functions. Iron overload occurs when excess iron accumulates in the body, causing organ dysfunction. Under such circumstances, iron chelation therapy is required, in repeatedly transfused patients suffering from sickle cell anemia or β-thalassemia [5,6,7,8]. Results: Curcumin caused a significant decrease in the Hct and Hb concentrations in Group III (P < 0.05). It 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). Conclusion: The findings of the present study suggest the therapeutic potential of curcumin against iron overload
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