Curcumin's Neuroprotective Efficacy Against Tartrazine-Induced Nissl Rim Alterations in Adult Male Rats' Motor Cortex

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the neuroprotective potential of curcumin against tartrazine made Nissl rim changes in neurons of the motor cortex in cerebrum of rats. Study Design. Laboratory based experimental research. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Anatomy, Islamic International Medical College, Rawalpindi from 30th Sep 2019-30th July 2020. Materials and Methods: Forty-five adult male albino rats (250-300gm) were divided randomly into three groups. (n=15). Group A, rats were given standard rat diet. Group B, rats were given tartrazine orally by dissolving in tap water with dose of 7.5 mg/kg body weight. Group C, rats were given 200mg/kg of curcumin along with tartrazine orally by dissolving in tap water, daily for 28 consecutive days. At the end, animals were euthanized and dissected to remove the brain. Coronal section of 5mm thickness of rat motor (frontal) cortices in the precentral areas were taken for further processing. After embedding,5μm thick coronal sections were obtained and stained with Toluidine blue to visualize the Nissl substance. Results were analyzed using SPSS version 21. Results: The curcumin administration significantly improved the Nissl rim thickness (p-value < 0.001 on intergroup comparison). Nissl’s rim thickness was found to be 1.77 ±0.284µm, 1.01±0.974 µm and 1.92±0.193 µm in groups A, B and C respectively. Conclusion: The curcumin significantly restores the Nissl rim thickness and alleviate the tartrazine induced neurotoxic changes in gray matter of motor cortex.

Keywords

• curcumin, food azo compounds, nissl bodies, oxidative stress, tartrazine.