Abstract
The spice principles curcumin (from turmeric) and eugenol (from cloves) are good inhibitors of lipid peroxidation. Lipid peroxidation is known to be initiated by reactive oxygen species. The effect of curcumin and eugenol on the generation of reactive oxygen species in model systems were investigated. Both curcumin and eugenol inhibited superoxide anion generation in xanthine-xanthine oxidase system to an extent of 40% and 50% at concentrations of 75 μM and 250 μM respectively. Curcumin and eugenol also inhibited the generation of hydroxyl radicals (.OH) to an extent of 76% and 70% as measured by deoxyribose degradation. The.OH-radical formation measured by the hydroxylation of salicylate to 2,3-dihydroxy benzoate was inhibited to an extent of 66% and 46%, respectively, by curcumin and eugenol at 50 μM and 250 μM. These spice principles also prevented the oxidation of Fe2+ in Fentons reaction which generates.OH radicals.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
O'Brien PJ: Oxidation of lipids in biological membranes and intracellular consequences. In: W.S. Chan (ed) Autooxidation of unsaturated lipids. Academic Press, New York, 1987, pp 233–280
Steinberg D, Parthasarathy S, Crew TE, Khoo JC, Witztum JC: Beyond cholesterol: Modification of low density lipoproteins that increases its atherogenecity. N Engl J Med 320: 915–924, 1989
Ross R: The pathogenesis of artherosclerosis. An update. N Engl J Med 314: 488–520, 1986
Yagi K: A biochemical approach to atherogenesis. TIBS 11: 18–19, 1986
Salmon JA: Role of arachidonic acid metabolites in inflammatory and thrombic responses. Biochem Soc Transactions 15:324–326, 1987
Fridovich S, Porter NA: Oxidation of Arachidonic acid in micelles by superoxide and hydrogen peroxide. J Biol Chem 156: 260–265, 1981
Girotti AW, Thomas JP: Damaging effects of oxygen radicals on resealed erthyrocyte ghosts. J Biol Chem 259: 1744–1752, 1984
McCord JM, Day ED: Superoxide dependent production of hydroxyl radical catalyzed by Iron EDTA complex. FEBS Lett 86: 139–142, 1978
Halliwell B, Gutteridge JMC: Role of free radicals and catalytic metal ions in human disease. An overview. Methods Enzymol 186: 1–88, 1990
Schaich KM, Borg DC: Fenton reactions in lipid phases. Lipids 23: 570–577, 1988
Minotti G, Aust SD: The role of iron in oxygen radical mediated lipid peroxidation. Chem Biol Inter 71: 1–19, 1989
Minotti G, Aust SD: Rodox cycling of iron and lipid peroxidation. Lipids 27: 219–226, 1992
Ryan TP, Aust SD: The role of iron in oxygen mediated toxicities. Crit Rev Toxicol 22: 119–141, 1992
Miller DM, Aust SD: Studies of Ascorbate-dependent, iron-catalyzed lipid peroxidation. Arch Biochem Biophys 271: 113–119, 1989
Minotti G, Aust SD: The requirement of iron (III) in the initiation of lipid peroxidation by iron (II) and hydrogen peroxide. J Biol Chem 262: 1098–1104, 1987
Svingen BA, Buege JA, O'neal FO, Aust SD: Mechanism of NADPH dependent lipid peroxidation. J Biol Chem 254: 5892–5899, 1979
Gutteridge JMC: Lipid peroxidation: Some problems and concepts. In: B. Halliwell (ed) Oxygen radicals and tissue injury. Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, Bethesda, MD, 1988, pp 9–19
Pulla Reddy A.Ch., Lokesh BR: Studies on spice principles as antioxidants in the inhibition of lipid peroxidation of rat liver microsomes. Mol Cell Biochem 111: 117–124, 1992
Govindarajan VS: Turmeric-chemistry, technology and quality. CRC Rev Food Sci Nutr 12: 199–301, 1980
Srimal RC: Curcumin a modern drug. Indian Spices 30: 21–25, 1993
Deodhar SD, Sethi R, Srimal RC: Preliminary study on antirheumatic activity of curcumin (diferulolyl methane). Ind J Med Res 71: 632–634, 1980
Huang MT, Lysz T, Ferraro T, Abidi TF, Laskin JD, Coney AH: Inhibitory effects of curcumin onin vitro lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase activities in mouse epidermis. Cancer Res 51: 813–819, 1991
Leela Srinivas, Shalini VK, Shylaja M: Turmerin: A water soluble antioxidant peptide from turmeric (Cucuma longa). Arch Biochem Biophys 292: 617–623, 1992
Aruna K, Srivaramakrishnan VM: Plant products as protective agents against cancer. Ind J Exp Biol 28: 1008–1011, 1990
WattsA, Peterson RC: Pulpal response to a zinc oxide-eugenol cement. Int Endodont J 20: 82–86, 1987
Flohe L, Otting H: Superoxide dismutase assays. Methos Enzymol 105: 93–104, 1984
Halliwell B, Gutteridge JMC: Formation of a thiobarbutiric acid reactive substances from deoxyribose in the presence of iron salts. FEBS Lett 128: 347–352, 1981
Halliwell B, Gutteridge JMC: Role of iron in oxygen radical reactions. Methods Enzymol 105: 47–56, 1984
Tien M, Morehouse LA, Bucher JR, Aust SD: The multiple effects of ethylenediaminetetraacetate in several model lipid peroxidation systems. Arch Biochem Biophys 218: 450–458, 1982
Robak J, Gryglewski RJ: Flavonoids are scavengers of superoxide anions. Biochem Pharmacol 37: 2837–2841, 1988
Elizabeth K, Rao MNA: Effect of curcumin on hydroxyl radical generation through Fenton reaction. Int J Pharmaceutics 57: 173–176, 1989
Elizabeth K, Rao MNA: Oxygen radical scavenging activity of curcumin. Int J Pharmaceutics 58: 237–240, 1990
Srivastava R: Inhibition of neutrophil response by curcumin. Agents Actions 28: 298–303, 1989
McCord JM: Free radicals and inflammation: Protection of synovial fluid by superoxide dismutase. Science 185: 529–531, 1974
Asthana OP: Annual Report, Central Drug Research Institute, India, 1992–93, p 58
Miller DM, Grover TA, Nayini N, Aust SD: Xanthine oxidase-and iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. Arch Biochem Biophys 301: 1–7, 1993
Rice-Evans C, Burdon R: Free radical-lipid interactions and their pathological consequences. Prog Lipid Res 32: 71–110, 1993
Nagashima K: Inhibitory effect of eugenol on Cu2+-catalyzed lipid peroxidation in human erythrocyte membranes. Int J Biochem 21: 745–749, 1989
Nagababu E, Lakshmaiah N: Inhibitory effect of Eugenol on non-enzymatic lipid peroxidation in rat liver mitochondria. Biochem Pharmacol 43: 2392–2400, 1992
Sreejayan, Rao MNA: Curcumin inhibits iron dependent lipid peroxidation. nt J Pharmaceutics 100: 93–97, 1993
Schaich KM: Free radical and metal complexing activity of curcumin compounds from turmeric. AOCS Annual meeting Abstracts, INFORM 4: 529, 1993, p 8
Thonnesen HH, Greenhill JV: Studies on curcumin and curcuminoids. XXII. Curcumin as a reducing agent and radical scavenger. Int J Pharmaceutics 87: 79–87, 1992
Pulla Reddy A Ch, Lokesh BR: Alterations in lipid peroxides in rat liver by dietary n-3 fatty acids: Modulation of antioxidant enzymes by curcumin, eugenol, and vitamin E. J Nutr Biochem 5: 181–188, 1994
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Reddy, A.C.P., Lokesh, B.R. Studies on the inhibitory effects of curcumin and eugenol on the formation of reactive oxygen species and the oxidation of ferrous iron. Mol Cell Biochem 137, 1–8 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00926033
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00926033