Protective role of curcumin against the toxic effects of cyclophosphamide in the third instar larvae of transgenic Drosophila melanogaster (hsp70-lacZ)Bg9

Abstract

In the present study the effects of curcumin was studied against the toxic effects induced by 0.025 and 0.050 ml/ml of cyclophosphamide (CP) in the third instar larvae of transgenic <em>Drosophila melanogaster (hsp70-lacZ)Bg9</em> using hsp70 expression and dye exclusion test as a parameter. The exposure of the third instar larvae to 0.025ml/ml of CP along with 1, 5 and 10 mg/ml of curcumin results in the dose dependent significant decrease in the <em>hsp70</em> expression and tissue damage for 12, 24 and 48hr of duration. Similar results were obtained with the exposure of third instar larvae to 0.050 ml/ml of CP along with 1, 5 and 10 mg/ml of curcumin. The selected doses of curcumin i.e. 1, 5 and 10 mg/ml were not toxic but reduced significantly the expression of <em>hsp70</em> and tissue damage induced by CP. The results of the present study suggest that the curcumin has a protective role against the toxic effects of CP in the third instar larvae of transgenic <em>Drosophila melanogaster (hsp70-lacZ)Bg9</em>.