Neurotoxicity of N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in Swiss albino mice and neuroprotection by nanocurcumin

Abstract

Nitrosamine is a highly toxic compound which is released in various industries like rubber, cosmetics, pesticides etc. NDMA is formed in the processed food where sodium nitrite is used as preservative. It can also be found in alcoholic beverages and vegetables. Human’s exposure to NDMA is unavoidable. Mutagenic and hepatotoxic effects of NDMA has been reported but neurotoxicity data is not well established. In this study-four groups of Swiss albino mice were taken; Group I received the vehicle i.e. distilled water, group II received NDMA at the dose of 0.58 mg/kg body weight (1/25th of LD50) and group III received NDMA (0.58 mg/kg b.w.) + Nanocurcumin (20 mg/kg body weight) and group IV received only Nanocurcumin (20 mg/kg body weight). Various parameters of neuromuscular strength and neurotransmitters like Serotonin, Dopamine and Acetylcholinesterase were significantly decreased by NDMA treatment. Nanocurcumin administration along with NDMA didn’t cause any toxicity. In NDMA treated group’s antioxidant enzymes viz. SOD, catalase and glutathione peroxidase were significantly reduced whereas nanocurcumin showed protective effects as the nanocurcumin administration with NDMA showed near normal levels of the antioxidant enzymes. Cerebral cortexshowed pia mater encephalic, intracellular and extracellular vacuoles, irregular, pyramidal cells and broadening vessel peripheral clearance was also seen in NDMA treatment group, which were normal in the control and nanocurcumin treated group. These findings proved that NDMA caused neurotoxicity at the tested dose level and nanocurcumin have neuroprotective potential against NDMA treatment.