Kanyarat Promchan. The study of iron contents in curcuma products and its adverse effects in rats. Master's Degree(Toxicology). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2009-07-24.
The study of iron contents in curcuma products and its adverse effects in rats
Abstract:
Iron is vital to life because it is an important component of molecules that undergoes
redox reactions and also plays a role in oxygen transport. However, iron overload can produce
increased lipid peroxidation, initiated by reactive oxygen species, which can damage proteins,
lipid, and DNA. As herbals are widely used as alternative medicine, the possible health
hazardous effects of iron-contaminated herbal products should be evaluated. Curcuma longa
(C. longa) is a plant in Zingiberaceae family, widely used in Thailand as spices for cooking
and as herbal product for the treatment of dyspepsia. Therefore, C. longa crude powders,
containing high iron contents, should be evaluated for its safety. This study aimed to evaluate
the repeated-dose effects of iron-contaminated C. longa extract and crude powder products in
rats.
The variation of iron contents was found in C. longa crude powder and products,
probably from both the cultivation and the manufacturing process. Male Wistar rats were
orally administered ferrous sulfate at doses 200, 400, 800, and 1,600 mg/kg BW, daily, for 14
days. Body weight, iron contents in blood, liver, spleen, and pancreas and morphological study
of selected organs observation in rats indicated that the major organs of iron accumulation are
liver, spleen, and pancreas. The signs of hepatocyte degeneration, including pyknotic nucleus,
cell swelling, and vacuolated cytoplasm were observed and the severity of the pancreatic islet
enlargement showed dose-dependent. C. longa extract (iron content 3.48 mg/kg) at the doses
of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg BW caused the enlargement of pancreatic islets and the signs of
hepatocyte degeneration. However, C. longa extract could reduce the pancreatic islet
enlargement from iron toxicity. There were no adverse effects on body weight, and iron
contents in blood, liver, spleen, and pancreas in rats orally administered with curcuma
products (iron contents 109, 472, and 702 mg/kg). Morphological study revealed the
enlargement of pancreatic islets and the obvious signs of hepatocyte degeneration, including
pyknotic nucleus, cell swelling, vacuolated cytoplasm, and desquamous endothelium. All
curcuma products could reduce this enlargement resulting from iron toxicity.
In conclusion, the repeated-dose effects of iron-contaminated C. longa products and
extract in the present study are 6 and 24 times as compared to recommended daily dose of C.
longa products and extract for human consumption, respectively. The results indicated that
these concentrations were cytotoxicity to liver and pancreas. Precautions should be taken into
account for the long-term use of high doses of curcuma products. Further studies should
elucidate the cytoprotective and cytotoxic effects of C. longa extract and products on pancreas
and liver and also the mechanisms of the active chemicals causing morphological changes of
both organs