Curcumin’s Radioprotective Effects on Zebrafish Embryos
Radiation modifiers are largely studied for their contribution to enlarging the treatment window. Curcumin is already known for its antioxidant properties; however, its role as a radioprotector in preclinical studies is affected by the well-known low absorption and bioavailability of curcumin. In th...
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MDPI AG
2024-10-01
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| Series: | Antioxidants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/13/11/1281 |
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| author | Gaia Pucci Gaetano Savoca Giuseppina Iacoviello Giorgio Russo Giusi I. Forte Vincenzo Cavalieri |
| author_facet | Gaia Pucci Gaetano Savoca Giuseppina Iacoviello Giorgio Russo Giusi I. Forte Vincenzo Cavalieri |
| author_sort | Gaia Pucci |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Radiation modifiers are largely studied for their contribution to enlarging the treatment window. Curcumin is already known for its antioxidant properties; however, its role as a radioprotector in preclinical studies is affected by the well-known low absorption and bioavailability of curcumin. In this study, curcumin’s radioprotection ability has been evaluated in zebrafish larvae, by taking advantage of quantifying curcumin absorption and evaluating its fluorescence in transparent embryos. A curcumin range of 1–10 μM was tested to select the non-toxic concentrations to be used for a pre-treatment of photon beam irradiation using a 2–15 Gy range of doses. The post-treatment analysis within 120 h post-fertilization (hpf) included an assessment of mortality and malformation rates and behavioral and gene expression analysis. A total of 2.5 and 5 μM of curcumin pre-treatment showed a radioprotective role, significantly reducing the frequency of embryo malformations and damaged entities. This sparing effect disappeared using 15 Gy, showing the radiation effect’s prevalence. Gene expression analysis reconducted this radioprotective ability for antioxidant gene network activation. The curcumin-induced activation of the antioxidant gene network promoted radioprotection in zebrafish. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f01b4d2ebceb4bcca93ac148ac0286d7 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-3921 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Antioxidants |
| spelling | doaj-art-f01b4d2ebceb4bcca93ac148ac0286d72024-11-26T17:46:46ZengMDPI AGAntioxidants2076-39212024-10-011311128110.3390/antiox13111281Curcumin’s Radioprotective Effects on Zebrafish EmbryosGaia Pucci0Gaetano Savoca1Giuseppina Iacoviello2Giorgio Russo3Giusi I. Forte4Vincenzo Cavalieri5Institute of Bioimaging and Complex Biological Systems (IBSBC)—National Research Council (CNR), Cefalù Secondary Site, C/da Pietrapollastra-Pisciotto, 90015 Cefalù, ItalyRadiation Oncology Unit, ARNAS-Civico Hospital, 90100 Palermo, ItalyRadiation Oncology Unit, ARNAS-Civico Hospital, 90100 Palermo, ItalyInstitute of Bioimaging and Complex Biological Systems (IBSBC)—National Research Council (CNR), Cefalù Secondary Site, C/da Pietrapollastra-Pisciotto, 90015 Cefalù, ItalyInstitute of Bioimaging and Complex Biological Systems (IBSBC)—National Research Council (CNR), Cefalù Secondary Site, C/da Pietrapollastra-Pisciotto, 90015 Cefalù, ItalyDepartment of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STeBiCeF), University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Bld. 16, 90128 Palermo, ItalyRadiation modifiers are largely studied for their contribution to enlarging the treatment window. Curcumin is already known for its antioxidant properties; however, its role as a radioprotector in preclinical studies is affected by the well-known low absorption and bioavailability of curcumin. In this study, curcumin’s radioprotection ability has been evaluated in zebrafish larvae, by taking advantage of quantifying curcumin absorption and evaluating its fluorescence in transparent embryos. A curcumin range of 1–10 μM was tested to select the non-toxic concentrations to be used for a pre-treatment of photon beam irradiation using a 2–15 Gy range of doses. The post-treatment analysis within 120 h post-fertilization (hpf) included an assessment of mortality and malformation rates and behavioral and gene expression analysis. A total of 2.5 and 5 μM of curcumin pre-treatment showed a radioprotective role, significantly reducing the frequency of embryo malformations and damaged entities. This sparing effect disappeared using 15 Gy, showing the radiation effect’s prevalence. Gene expression analysis reconducted this radioprotective ability for antioxidant gene network activation. The curcumin-induced activation of the antioxidant gene network promoted radioprotection in zebrafish.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/13/11/1281zebrafishcurcuminradioprotectionradiomodifierradiation |
| spellingShingle | Gaia Pucci Gaetano Savoca Giuseppina Iacoviello Giorgio Russo Giusi I. Forte Vincenzo Cavalieri Curcumin’s Radioprotective Effects on Zebrafish Embryos Antioxidants zebrafish curcumin radioprotection radiomodifier radiation |
| title | Curcumin’s Radioprotective Effects on Zebrafish Embryos |
| title_full | Curcumin’s Radioprotective Effects on Zebrafish Embryos |
| title_fullStr | Curcumin’s Radioprotective Effects on Zebrafish Embryos |
| title_full_unstemmed | Curcumin’s Radioprotective Effects on Zebrafish Embryos |
| title_short | Curcumin’s Radioprotective Effects on Zebrafish Embryos |
| title_sort | curcumin s radioprotective effects on zebrafish embryos |
| topic | zebrafish curcumin radioprotection radiomodifier radiation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/13/11/1281 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT gaiapucci curcuminsradioprotectiveeffectsonzebrafishembryos AT gaetanosavoca curcuminsradioprotectiveeffectsonzebrafishembryos AT giuseppinaiacoviello curcuminsradioprotectiveeffectsonzebrafishembryos AT giorgiorusso curcuminsradioprotectiveeffectsonzebrafishembryos AT giusiiforte curcuminsradioprotectiveeffectsonzebrafishembryos AT vincenzocavalieri curcuminsradioprotectiveeffectsonzebrafishembryos |