The present study is conducted to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of curcumin nanoparticles (CUR NP) against the neurotoxicity induced by cisplatin (CP) in rat. Rats were divided into control group that received saline solution, CP-treated rats that received a single i.p. injection of CP (12 mg/kg body wt), and CP-treated rats that received a single i.p injection of CP (12 mg/kg body wt) followed by a daily oral administration of CUR NP (50 mg/kg body wt) for 14 days. At the end of the experiment, the motor activity of rats was evaluated by open field test. The neurochemical and histopathological changes were investigated in the cerebral cortex. A significant decrease in motor activity was observed in CP-treated rats. This was associated with a significant increase in the cortical levels of lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor-α, caspase-3, and acetylcholinesterase activity. However, CP induced a significant decrease in reduced glutathione levels and Na+, K+-ATPase activity. In rats treated with CP and CUR NP, no significant changes were recorded in the parameters of the open field test as compared to control. In addition, treatment with CUR NP prevented all the neurochemical changes induced by CP except the increased value of nitric oxide. CUR NP also reduced the histopathological changes induced by CP. It is clear from the present data that CUR NP could ameliorate the neurotoxic effect induced by cisplatin.
Keywords: Cisplatin; TNF-α; caspase-3; curcumin nanoparticles; neurotoxicity; oxidative stress.