Effect of curcumin analog on γ-radiation-induced cellular changes in primary culture of isolated rat hepatocytes in vitro

The present study was aimed to evaluate the radioprotective effect of curcumin analog, on γ-radiation-induced toxicity in primary cultures of isolated rat hepatocytes. Hepatocytes were isolated from the liver of rats by collagenase perfusion. The DNA damage was analysed by single cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay). An increase in the severity of DNA damage was observed with the increase in γ-radiation dose at 1–4 Gy in cultured rat hepatocytes. The levels of lipid peroxidative indices like thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARSs) were increased significantly, whereas the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and antioxidant enzymes were significantly decreased in γ-irradiated groups. The maximum damage to hepatocytes was observed at 4 Gy γ-irradiation. Pretreatment with different concentrations of curcumin analog (1.38, 6.91 and 13.82 μM) shows a significant decrease in the levels of TBARS and DNA damage. Pretreatment with curcumin analog prevents the loss of enzymic and non-enzymic antioxidants like GSH upon γ-irradiation. The maximum protection of hepatocytes was observed at 6.91 μM of curcumin analog pretreatment. Thus, our result shows that pretreatment with curcumin analog protects the hepatocytes against γ-radiation-induced cellular damage.