Curcumin-loaded cockle shell-derived calcium carbonate nanoparticles: A novel strategy for the treatment of lead-induced hepato-renal toxicity in rats

Maryam Muhammad Mailafiya; Kabeer Abubakar; Samaila Musa Chiroma; Abubakar Danmaigoro; Ezamin Bin Abdul Rahim; Mohamad Aris Mohd Moklas; Zuki Abu Bakar Zakaria

doi:10.1016/j.sjbs.2020.03.009

Curcumin-loaded cockle shell-derived calcium carbonate nanoparticles: A novel strategy for the treatment of lead-induced hepato-renal toxicity in rats

Saudi J Biol Sci. 2020 Jun;27(6):1538-1552. doi: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2020.03.009. Epub 2020 Mar 12.

Authors

Maryam Muhammad Mailafiya^{1

2}, Kabeer Abubakar^{1

2}, Samaila Musa Chiroma³, Abubakar Danmaigoro⁴, Ezamin Bin Abdul Rahim⁵, Mohamad Aris Mohd Moklas¹, Zuki Abu Bakar Zakaria⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
² Department of Human Anatomy, College of Medical Sciences, Federal University Lafia, 950101, Akunza, Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria.
³ Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, 600230 Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.
⁴ Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usman Danfodiyo University, 840213, Sultan Abubakar, Sokoto State, Nigeria.
⁵ Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
⁶ Department of Preclinical Sciences Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.

Abstract

Lead (Pb) toxicity affects the hepatic and renal systems resulting to homeostasis imbalance. Curcumin is a strong antioxidant but has restrained clinical applications due to its poor bioavailability. Nanomedicine showed promising potentials in drug delivery and has brought forth the use of cockle shell-derived aragonite calcium carbonate nanoparticles (CSCaCO₃NP) to enhance the effectiveness and targeted delivery of curcumin (Cur). Thus, this study aimed at evaluating the therapeutic effect of curcumin-loaded CSCaCO₃NP (Cur- CSCaCO₃NP) on lead-induced hepato-renal toxicity in rats. Thirty-six male adults Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into five groups. All groups contained six rats each except for group A, which contained 12 rats. All rats apart from the rats in group A (control) were orally administered a flat dose of 50 mg/kg of lead for four weeks. Six rats from group A and B were euthanized after four weeks of lead induction. Oral administration of curcumin (100 mg/kg) for group C and Cur-CSCaCO₃NP (50 and 100 mg/kg) for groups D and E respectively, commenced immediately after 4 weeks of lead induction which lasted for 4 weeks. All rats were euthanized at the 8th week of the experiment. Further, biochemical, histological and hematological analysis were performed. The findings revealed a biochemical, hematological and histological changes in lead-induced rats. However, treatments with the Cur-CSCaCO₃NP and free curcumin reversed the aforementioned changes. Although, Cur-CSCaCO₃NP presented better therapeutic effects on lead-induced toxicity in rats when compared to free curcumin as there was significant improvements in hematological, biochemical and histological changes which is parallel with attenuation of oxidative stress. The findings of the current study hold great prospects for Cur-CSCaCO₃NP as a novel approach for effective oral treatment of lead-induced hepato-renal impairments.

Keywords: Cockle shell; Curcumin; Hepato-renal injuries; Lead-toxicity; Nanoparticles; Oral therapeutics.