Effects of curcumin on the bioavailability of dioxin-like pollutants in rats

Delei Cai,Jianlong Han,Yanhua Song,Haitao Shen,Yibin Zheng,Zhen Meng,Qing Chen

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-92085-3

Abstract

The effects of curcumin on the bioavailability of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) were investigated in Sprague–Dawley rats. Tetra- and penta-chlorinated PCDFs had the lowest bioavailability and hexa-chlorinated PCDD/Fs had the highest, while there was no obvious change in that of DL-PCBs. Curcumin markedly reduced the toxic equivalent (TEQ) of PCDD/Fs in rats, illustrating the potential to competitively inhibit absorption of PCDD/Fs by the epithelial cells of the small intestine due to the similar chemical structure (diphenyl) between curcumin and PCDD/Fs. Moreover, curcumin lowered the TEQ of DL-PCBs in the liver of male rats, but not female rats. The significant decrease in the bioavailability of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs demonstrates the potential detoxification mechanisms of curcumin.

Highlights

The effects of curcumin on the bioavailability of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) were investigated in Sprague–Dawley rats
The administration of curcumin markedly decreased the bioavailability of WHO-PCDD/F-toxic equivalent (TEQ), WHODL-PCB-TEQ, and total TEQ in the liver of male rats, but only slightly reduced the bioavailability of WHOPCDD/F-TEQ in the liver of female rats, indicating that curcumin can attenuate the bioavailability of DL-persistent organic pollutants (POPs). These results suggest that the decrease in the bioavailability of DL-POPs may be a detoxification mechanism of curcumin
The bioavailability of tetra- and penta-chlorinated PCDDs and tetra- and penta-chlorinated PCDFs was reduced markedly in male rats, while the impact on the bioavailability of WHO-PCDD/F-TEQ based on wet weight was greater

Summary

Introduction

The effects of curcumin on the bioavailability of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) were investigated in Sprague–Dawley rats. As a possible alternative pathway underlying the detoxification of DL-POPs, curcumin is reported to decrease the absorption of DL-POPs in the epithelium of the small intestine, which leads to reduced bioavailability and decreased exposure to organisms, exerting a detoxifying effect. To verify this hypothesis, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of curcumin on the bioavailability of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs in the rat liver and to identify possible mechanisms of curcumin underlying the detoxification of DL-POPs

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