Curcumin and nanocurcumin attenuate ethanol-induced cognitive and oxidative impairments in male rats

Chronic ethanol consumption induces oxidative stress, damaging hippocampal neurons and cognition. Curcumin (Curcuma longa) has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions; its nanoformulation (nanocurcumin) improves absorption and therapeutic efficacy. We evaluated curcumin and nanocurcumin for protection against ethanol-induced learning/memory deficits and hippocampal oxidative imbalance in male rats. Six groups (n = 7) were assigned: control (saline intraperitoneally and orally), ethanol (saline by gavage followed by a 20% ethanol intraperitoneal injection), and four treatment groups receiving curcumin or nanocurcumin (100 and 200 mg/kg) for 15 days. Oxidative status was assessed by hippocampal catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione (GSH), while behavior was evaluated using the novel object recognition test (NORT) and the elevated plus maze test (EPMT) as an anxiety-related index. Ethanol reduced the discrimination index versus control (p < 0.001). Curcumin (100 and 200 mg/kg) and nanocurcumin (100 and 200 mg/kg) increased the discrimination index versus ethanol (p < 0.001). Ethanol lowered CAT, SOD, and GSH (p < 0.01, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively); both treatments restored these markers, with nanocurcumin more effective, particularly at a dose of 200 mg/kg. Curcumin enhances hippocampal antioxidant defenses, reducing ethanol-induced cognitive decline. Nanocurcumin could treat ethanol-induced neurotoxicity due to its enhanced bioavailability.