Evaluation of the Early Radioprotective Effect of Curcumin on the Rat Larynx

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the side effects of radiotherapy (RT) could be reduced by curcumin administered to rats receiving RT to the larynx.

Forty male Wistar Albino rats were randomly and equally divided into four groups: RT only (Group I), RT+curcumin+dimethyl sulfoxide (Group II), RT+dimethyl sulfoxide (Group III), and curcumin+dimethyl sulfoxide (Group IV). Curcumin was administered intraperitoneally, dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide, starting five days before RT. A single 16 Gy dose of X-ray was applied to the neck region in groups receiving RT. All groups were sacrificed on the third day after RT. Laryngeal tissues were excised and analyzed histopathologically (for edema, hyperemia, pseudostratification, necrosis, cilia loss, and inflammation) and immunohistochemically [Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α) expression]. Histopathological parameters were graded as none, mild, moderate, and severe (0, 1+, 2+, 3+). The severity of TNF-α expression was scored between 0 and 3.

The formation of edema, hyperemia, necrosis, and pseudostratification in Group II rats was statistically significantly reduced (p=0.001, 0.003, 0.004, and 0.005, respectively). Similarly, TNF-α expression was also significantly decreased in Group II rats (p=0.009). However, no statistically significant differences were observed for cilia loss and inflammation (p=0.055 and 0.091, respectively).

Our findings suggest that curcumin may reduce the development of edema, hyperemia, necrosis, and pseudostratification in laryngeal tissue due to RT. While further research is needed to determine whether curcumin confers protection against RT-induced damage in tumor tissues, the results of this study suggest that curcumin, a natural, non-toxic, and cost-effective dietary compound, has the potential to be used as a radioprotective agent.