The protective effect of curcumin on cardiac markers and fibrosis in abemaciclib-induced cardiac damage in rats

Effect of abemaciclib and curcumin administration on sex hormones, reproductive functions, and oxidative DNA expression in rats

This study investigated whether abemaciclib (ABE) administration had any adverse effects on ovarian and sex hormones in female rats, and the protective effect of curcumin. Forty female rats were equally divided into the sham control, DMSO, curcumin (CMN), ABE, and ABE+CMN groups. Pharmaceuticals were administered by gavage daily for 28 days. Serum sex hormones were measured in an autoanalyzer operating with a microparticle immunoassay method. In addition, histopathological examination and 8-OHdG expression were performed on the ovarian tissue. Progesterone and testosterone levels were significantly decreased, while estradiol levels were significantly increased, in the ABE group compared to the sham and DMSO groups. In addition, there were significant differences in sex hormone levels in the CMN and/or CMN+ABE groups compared to the ABE group. There was decreased expression of 8-OHdG in the ABE+CMN group compared to the ABE or CMN only groups. This study exhibited that ABE administration can adversely affect functions and histology of the ovarian tissue, but CMN therapy may be protective against the adverse effects on ovarian in ABE-induced rats.

The effects of berberine and curcumin on cardiac, lipid profile and fibrosis markers in cyclophosphamide-induced cardiac damage: The role of the TRPM2 channel

Cyclophosphamide (CYP) is widely used to treat various types of cancer. In addition to the therapeutic properties of this drug, unfortunately, its side effects are still not fully understood. This study investigated the protective effect of curcumin (CURC) and berberine (BER) on CYP-induced cardiac damage. Thirty-six male rats were equally divided into the control, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), CYP, CYP + CURC, CYP + BER and CYP + BER + CURC groups. Troponin-I, Creatine kinase-myocardial band (CK-MB), total cholesterol, triglyceride levels in serum samples, and reactive oxygen species (ROS), poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1), and transient receptor potential melastatin 2 (TRPM2) channel levels in heart tissue were measured using an enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) kit. In addition, histopathological examination and immunohistochemical investigation of the TRPM2 channel, fibroblast specific protein-1 (FSP1), transforming growth factor-beta- 1 (TGF-β1) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expressions were determined in heart tissue. The CYP group's troponin-I, total cholesterol, triglyceride, CK-MB, ROS, PARP-1 and TRPM2 channel levels were higher than in the other groups in the ELISA measurements (p < 0.05). In contrast, these parameters in the group treated with CURC and BER together with CYP were lower than in the CYP group (p < 0.05). Additionally, CUR and BER reduced CYP-induced pathological damage, TRPM2, FSP1, TGF-β1 and α-SMA expressions. The data showed that CYP administration can cause cardiac damage by increasing the TRPM2 channel, TGF-β1, FSP1 and α-SMA expression levels. Therefore, we concluded that CURC and BER administration following CYP application may be used as therapeutic agents to prevent CYP-induced cardiac damage.

Review of the Protective Mechanism of Curcumin on Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the most common cause of death worldwide and has been the focus of research in the medical community. Curcumin is a polyphenolic compound extracted from the root of turmeric. Curcumin has been shown to have a variety of pharmacological properties over the past decades. Curcumin can significantly protect cardiomyocyte injury after ischemia and hypoxia, inhibit myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis, improve ventricular remodeling, reduce drug-induced myocardial injury, improve diabetic cardiomyopathy(DCM), alleviate vascular endothelial dysfunction, inhibit foam cell formation, and reduce vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMCs) proliferation. Clinical studies have shown that curcumin has a protective effect on blood vessels. Toxicological studies have shown that curcumin is safe. But high doses of curcumin also have some side effects, such as liver damage and defects in embryonic heart development. This article reviews the mechanism of curcumin intervention on CVDs in recent years, in order to provide reference for the development of new drugs in the future.

Effect of curcumin on lipid profile, fibrosis, and apoptosis in liver tissue in abemaciclib-administered rats

Abemaciclib (ABEM) is an important antitumor agent for breast cancer treatment. However, the side-effects of ABEM are unclear in the liver. This study investigated the protective effect of curcumin (CURC) on liver damage caused by ABEM. The rats were divided into five groups with eight animals in each group; Control, DMSO (150 µL for per rats), CURC, 30 mg/kg/day), ABE (26 mg/kg/day), and ABE + CURC (26 mg/kg/day ABE, 30 mg/kg/day) groups. Injections were administered daily for 28 days. The levels of AST, LDH, HDL, LDL, triglyceride, and total cholesterol in serum, and hepatic tissue fibrosis, caspase-3, Bax, and TNF-α expression were higher in the ABE group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Also, these parameters in the ABEM + CURC group were lower than in the ABE group (p < 0.05). The results showed that ABE administration could cause liver damage and increase fibrosis in the liver. In addition, it was shown that co-administration of CURC with ABE could suppress the levels of AST, LDH, HDL, LDL, triglyceride, and total cholesterol in serum, and fibrosis, caspase-3, Bax, and TNF-α expressions in the liver. These data are the first in the literature. Therefore, the administration of CURC following ABE may be a therapeutic agent in preventing liver damage.

Bioactive Compounds and Cardiac Fibrosis: Current Insight and Future Prospect

Cardiac fibrosis is a pathological condition characterized by excessive deposition of collagen and other extracellular matrix components in the heart. It is recognized as a major contributor to the development and progression of heart failure. Despite significant research efforts in characterizing and identifying key molecular mechanisms associated with myocardial fibrosis, effective treatment for this condition is still out of sight. In this regard, bioactive compounds have emerged as potential therapeutic antifibrotic agents due to their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. These compounds exhibit the ability to modulate fibrogenic processes by inhibiting the production of extracellular matrix proteins involved in fibroblast to myofibroblast differentiation, or by promoting their breakdown. Extensive investigation of these bioactive compounds offers new possibilities for preventing or reducing cardiac fibrosis and its detrimental consequences. This comprehensive review aims to provide a thorough overview of the mechanisms underlying cardiac fibrosis, address the limitations of current treatment strategies, and specifically explore the potential of bioactive compounds as therapeutic interventions for the treatment and/or prevention of cardiac fibrosis.