Effect of Curcumin on Antioxidant Enzyme Profile in Tissue Under Heavy Metal Stress

Abstract

In today's world, where the relationship between nutrition and health is increasingly recognized, plants with strong antioxidant content rank among the top choices for consumption in terms of protecting human health and treating diseases. Various environmental stress factors, particularly heavy metals, contribute to oxidative damage in the body, accumulating over time and paving the way for numerous diseases. Consequently, in recent years, there has been growing interest in studies aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of heavy metals. In this study, the potential protective effects of curcumin, a well-known antioxidant, on antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation in plant tissues were investigated to prevent oxidative stress induced by heavy metal (3 mM Pb). For this purpose, the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured in wheat plants under heavy metal stress in the presence of curcumin (0, 10, and 20 µM). The results demonstrated that antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD and CAT) increased, while MDA levels decreased in plant tissues exposed to stress in the presence of curcumin. The potential of curcumin in alleviating heavy metal-induced damage is expected to provide valuable insights for further academic research on this subject.

Keywords

• Curcumin
• Antioxidant enzyme
• Oxidative stress
• Heavy metal

Ağır Metal Stresi Altındaki Dokuda Kurkuminin Antioksidan Enzim Profiline Etkisi

Öz

Beslenme ve sağlık arasındaki ilişkinin her geçen gün daha da farkına varıldığı günümüzde antioksidan içerikleri güçlü olan bitkiler insan sağlığının korunması ve hastalıkların tedavi edilmesi açısından tüketimde ilk sıralarda yer almaktadır. Günümüz yaşam şartlarındaki pek çok çevresel stresin özellikle ağır metallerin vücudumuzda oluşturduğu oksidatif hasar vücutta birikerek pek çok hastalığa zemin hazırlamaktadır. Bu nedenle son yıllarda ağır metallerin bu olumsuz etkilerini azaltmayı amaçlayan çalışmalara olan ilgi artmaktadır. Bu çalışmada, ağır metal (3mM Pb) ile indüklenen oksidatif stresi önlemek amacıyla, antioksidan etkileri bilinen kurkuminin bitki dokusundaki antioksidan enzimler ve lipit peroksidasyonu üzerine olası koruyucu etkileri araştırılmıştır. Bu amaçla, kurkumin (0, 10 ve 20µM) varlığında ağır metal stresinin buğday bitkisinde oluşturduğu süperoksit dismutaz (SOD), katalaz (CAT) ve malondialdehit (MDA) düzeyleri ölçülmüştür. Kurkumin varlığında stres altındaki bitkisel dokuda antioksidan enzim (SOD ve CAT) aktivitesinin arttığı, malondialdehit (MDA) düzeyinin ise azaldığı tespit edilmiştir. Kurkuminin ağır metal stresinin neden olduğu hasarın giderilmesindeki bu potansiyel gücünün konu ile ilgili akademik çalışmalara da ışık tutacağı düşünülmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Kurkumin
• Antioksidan enzim
• Oksidatif stres
• Ağır metal

Kaynakça

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