Abstract
Curcumin, the active principle present in the yellow spice turmeric, has been shown to exhibit various pharmacological actions such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anti-carcinogenic activities. Previously we have reported that dietary curcumin delays diabetes-induced cataract in rats. However, low peroral bioavailability is a major limiting factor for the success of clinical utilization of curcumin. In this study, we have administered curcumin encapsulated nanoparticles in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic cataract model. Oral administration of 2 mg/day nanocurcumin was significantly more effective than curcumin in delaying diabetic cataracts in rats. The significant delay in progression of diabetic cataract by nanocurcumin is attributed to its ability to intervene the biochemical pathways of disease progression such as protein insolubilization, polyol pathway, protein glycation, crystallin distribution and oxidative stress. The enhanced performance of nanocurcumin can be attributed probably to its improved oral bioavailability. Together, the results of the present study demonstrate the potential of nanocurcumin in managing diabetic cataract.
MeSH terms
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Aldehyde Reductase / metabolism
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Animals
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Antioxidants / metabolism
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Biocompatible Materials / chemistry*
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Biodegradation, Environmental
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Blood Glucose / metabolism
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Body Weight / drug effects
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Cataract / blood
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Cataract / complications
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Cataract / drug therapy*
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Cataract / prevention & control*
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Crystallins / chemistry
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Crystallins / metabolism
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Curcumin / pharmacology
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Curcumin / therapeutic use*
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Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / blood
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Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / complications*
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Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / drug therapy*
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Disease Models, Animal
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Disease Progression
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Feeding Behavior / drug effects
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Insulin / blood
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Lactic Acid / chemistry
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Lens, Crystalline / drug effects
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Lens, Crystalline / enzymology
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Lens, Crystalline / pathology
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Malondialdehyde / metabolism
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Nanoparticles / therapeutic use*
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Oxidative Stress / drug effects
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Polyglycolic Acid / chemistry
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Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer
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Protein Carbonylation / drug effects
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Rats
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Sorbitol / metabolism
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Streptozocin
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Superoxide Dismutase / metabolism
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Treatment Outcome
Substances
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Antioxidants
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Biocompatible Materials
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Blood Glucose
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Crystallins
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Insulin
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Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer
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Polyglycolic Acid
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Lactic Acid
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Malondialdehyde
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Sorbitol
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Streptozocin
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Aldehyde Reductase
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Superoxide Dismutase
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Curcumin
Grants and funding
GBR received grants from the Indian Council of Medical Research, Department of Science & Technology, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India; MNVR received from the University of Strathclyde; MAP received a research fellowship from Indian Council of Medical Research, India. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.