Objective: 

We aimed to investigate the effects of curcumin on the prevention of heart and lung injury induced by intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (IR) in rats.

Methods: 

The study protocol was approved by Ethics Committee of the Selcuk University Experimental Medicine Research and Application Center. Male Wistar rats were divided randomly into four experimental groups: Sham, Intestinal IR, Curcumin/Sham, and Curcumin/Intestinal IR groups. Curcumin was given 200 mg.kg-1 via orally for 20 days to curcumin groups. Intestinal IR was produced by 45 min of intestinal ischemia followed by a 120 min of reperfusion. Animals were sacrificed by cardiac puncture. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) levels were analyzed in blood samples. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity was analyzed in intestinal tissue. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were analyzed in heart and lung tissues.

Results: 

Serum IL-6 and TNF-a levels were not different among the groups. Intestinal MPO activity was lower in Curcumin/Sham group compared to the IR group. In heart tissue, MDA levels were lower in Curcumin/Sham and Curcumin/IR groups compared to the Sham and IR groups. In lung tissue MDA levels were higher in Curcumin/IR group compared to the IR group. SOD activity was higher in Curcumin/Sham compared to the sham group in heart tissue and was higher in Curcumin/IR group compared to the IR group in lung tissue.

Conclusions: 

Curcumin attenuates heart and lung injury induced by intestinal ischemia/reperfusion.