Abstract

Atef E. Abd El-Baky

Iron plays a vital role in brain where it is essential for production of several neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and γ-aminobutyric acid. But, overload may have neurodegenerative effect due to oxidative metabolism. So, this study aimed mainly on how can overcome neurodegenerative disorders results from iron fortified diet using a natural product. We utilized curcumin (25 mg/kg/day) in normal and iron overload experimental rats against control. Iron overload was induced by packed biscuits (50 to 60 g/day) enriched with ferrous sulphate (0.2%, w/w) daily for 10 weeks. Rats were divided into four groups (n=10), Group I, rats received packed biscuits. Group II, rats received packed biscuits enriched with ferrous sulphate daily for 10 weeks. Group III, rats received curcumin orally. Group IV, rats were given packed biscuits enriched with ferrous sulphate concomitant with curcumin throughout the period of study referred to as treated group. All animals were killed after 10 weeks. The results showed that iron fortified elevated serum iron, ferritin, nitric oxide (NO) and peroxidation value (MDA) but reduced glutathione (GSH) and super oxide dismutase (SOD) were decreased. Also, Monoamine oxidase (MAO) was elevated leading to decrease of serotonin and dopamine. Serotonin, dopamine, GSH and SOD were alleviated significantly by curcumin. Both neuronal NOS (nNOS) expression and inducible NOS (iNOS) expression were elevated in rats fortified with iron overload and were decreased when treated with curcumin but endothelial NOS (eNOS) protein expression was absent in both controls, animals with iron overload. In conclusion, curcumin displayed effective neuroprotective potency. It has MAO inhibitory effects concerned with increasing of some neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, dopamine through iron chelators and antioxidant action.