PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF CURCUMIN ON MICE INFECTED WITH SCHISTOSOMA MANSONI

The antioxidant effect of curcumin; the levels of different types of lipids and serum ALT activity were studied in Swiss albino mice infected with 100 cercariae of S. mansoni and treated with single dose of curcumin 20 mg/kg body weight after six weeks of infection. Superoxide dismutase enzyme (SOD) activity was improved non- significantly after treatment with curcumin. The activity of serum GPT was significantly(P .001) reduced in S. mansoni infected mice after treatment with curcumin in comparing with the infected and treated with PZQ and those infected non treated group. Simultaneously, serum triglycerides and LDL were reduced significantly (p 0.05) after curcumin treatment and in comparing with mice infected and treated with PZQ. The level of HDL was significantly(P 0.001) elevated in mice infected with S. mansoni and treated with curcumin. On the other hand, serum level of cholesterol was also non- significantly decreased (p 0.05). The results of the present study demonstrate that curcumin may improve liver functions and the antioxidant status of the infected mice as well as the lipid metabolism of S. mansoni infected mice.