Abstract

Curcumin is a dietary element, easily available and also well-known herb, for its therapeutic uses. On the other hand, cadmium is considered as an omnipresent, hazardous, heavy metal as well as known carcinogen, clastogen and mutagen. It is known to produce severe toxic effects during occupational exposure in industries related to nickel-cadmium batteries, pigments, chemical stabilizers, metal coatings and alloys in humans. So, the objective of this study was to evaluate the ameliorative effects of curcumin as an antioxidant agent against cadmium induced genotoxicity in Peripheral Blood Lymphocyte Cultures (PBLC) of occupationally cadmium exposed individuals. The blood cadmium level was determined and it was significantly higher in exposed individuals as compared to controls. Blood samples from 40 workers exposed to cadmium, and 40 unexposed controls were used to analyse biochemical parameters like Total protein, GSH, GPx, GR, GST, LPO, CAT and SOD along with genotoxic parameters like SCEs, CCPI, AGT and PDT. The study revealed cadmium induced the free radicals formation which caused alteration in antioxidant defense system and may lead to genotoxicity. While curcumin ameliorates this toxicity by balancing the antioxidant defense system, decrease the lipid peroxidation and ultimately protect cells against cadmium genotoxicity. Hence, it can be concluded that curcumin which is herbal antidote can be helpful to protect cadmium toxicity in occupationally exposed workers.

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