Curcumin Improves the Efficacy of BMSCs in Myocardial Ischemia Injury in Rat

Background: Myocardial infarction can be associated with irreversal myocardial ischemia and the necrosis of the affected site of the heart. Curcumin has a protective effect on Myocardial Ischemia. Objectives: Our study aimed to combine a regenerative medicine with a traditional antioxidant effects as an adjuvant for the treatment of isoproterenol-induced MI. Methods: This experimental study conducted on 36 adult male Wistar rats in an university-affiliated animal lab, Urmia, Iran, in 2016. Male rats were divided into six groups of six rats, including control, MI (ISO 100 mg/kg), curcumin (80 mg/kg by oral gavage), Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells (BMSCs; 4 intravenous injection), and Cur-BMSCs. The efficiency of these methods was evaluated by histopathological examination, immunohistochemistry, measurement of heart rate, heart to body weight ratio, size of infarction, and serum levels of CK-MB, LDH, MDA, and SOD. Results: The benefit of curcumin was apparent in two recipient groups. The rats that received curcumin or were treated with BMSCs showed significant reductions in heart to body weight ratio (P < 0.001). The elevation of serum levels of CPK, LDH, MDA, and SOD (P < 0.001) was done in curcumin treatment groups. Decreases in the number of apoptotic cells were significant in cur (P < 0.001) and cur-BMSCs (P = 0.023) groups; histopathological injuries were recognized significantly in cur (P < 0.001) and cur-BMSCs (P = 0.012) groups, and infarct size was significant in both curcumin groups (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Curcumin pretreatment of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells helps in stem cells transplantation and acts as a synergist.