Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Studies on the inhibitory effects of curcumin and eugenol on the formation of reactive oxygen species and the oxidation of ferrous iron

  • Published:
Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

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.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. 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

    Google Scholar 

  2. 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

    Google Scholar 

  3. Ross R: The pathogenesis of artherosclerosis. An update. N Engl J Med 314: 488–520, 1986

    Google Scholar 

  4. Yagi K: A biochemical approach to atherogenesis. TIBS 11: 18–19, 1986

    Google Scholar 

  5. Salmon JA: Role of arachidonic acid metabolites in inflammatory and thrombic responses. Biochem Soc Transactions 15:324–326, 1987

    Google Scholar 

  6. Fridovich S, Porter NA: Oxidation of Arachidonic acid in micelles by superoxide and hydrogen peroxide. J Biol Chem 156: 260–265, 1981

    Google Scholar 

  7. Girotti AW, Thomas JP: Damaging effects of oxygen radicals on resealed erthyrocyte ghosts. J Biol Chem 259: 1744–1752, 1984

    Google Scholar 

  8. McCord JM, Day ED: Superoxide dependent production of hydroxyl radical catalyzed by Iron EDTA complex. FEBS Lett 86: 139–142, 1978

    Google Scholar 

  9. Halliwell B, Gutteridge JMC: Role of free radicals and catalytic metal ions in human disease. An overview. Methods Enzymol 186: 1–88, 1990

    Google Scholar 

  10. Schaich KM, Borg DC: Fenton reactions in lipid phases. Lipids 23: 570–577, 1988

    Google Scholar 

  11. Minotti G, Aust SD: The role of iron in oxygen radical mediated lipid peroxidation. Chem Biol Inter 71: 1–19, 1989

    Google Scholar 

  12. Minotti G, Aust SD: Rodox cycling of iron and lipid peroxidation. Lipids 27: 219–226, 1992

    Google Scholar 

  13. Ryan TP, Aust SD: The role of iron in oxygen mediated toxicities. Crit Rev Toxicol 22: 119–141, 1992

    Google Scholar 

  14. Miller DM, Aust SD: Studies of Ascorbate-dependent, iron-catalyzed lipid peroxidation. Arch Biochem Biophys 271: 113–119, 1989

    Google Scholar 

  15. 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

    Google Scholar 

  16. Svingen BA, Buege JA, O'neal FO, Aust SD: Mechanism of NADPH dependent lipid peroxidation. J Biol Chem 254: 5892–5899, 1979

    Google Scholar 

  17. 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

    Google Scholar 

  18. 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

    Google Scholar 

  19. Govindarajan VS: Turmeric-chemistry, technology and quality. CRC Rev Food Sci Nutr 12: 199–301, 1980

    Google Scholar 

  20. Srimal RC: Curcumin a modern drug. Indian Spices 30: 21–25, 1993

    Google Scholar 

  21. Deodhar SD, Sethi R, Srimal RC: Preliminary study on antirheumatic activity of curcumin (diferulolyl methane). Ind J Med Res 71: 632–634, 1980

    Google Scholar 

  22. 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

    Google Scholar 

  23. Leela Srinivas, Shalini VK, Shylaja M: Turmerin: A water soluble antioxidant peptide from turmeric (Cucuma longa). Arch Biochem Biophys 292: 617–623, 1992

    Google Scholar 

  24. Aruna K, Srivaramakrishnan VM: Plant products as protective agents against cancer. Ind J Exp Biol 28: 1008–1011, 1990

    Google Scholar 

  25. WattsA, Peterson RC: Pulpal response to a zinc oxide-eugenol cement. Int Endodont J 20: 82–86, 1987

    Google Scholar 

  26. Flohe L, Otting H: Superoxide dismutase assays. Methos Enzymol 105: 93–104, 1984

    Google Scholar 

  27. 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

    Google Scholar 

  28. Halliwell B, Gutteridge JMC: Role of iron in oxygen radical reactions. Methods Enzymol 105: 47–56, 1984

    Google Scholar 

  29. 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

    Google Scholar 

  30. Robak J, Gryglewski RJ: Flavonoids are scavengers of superoxide anions. Biochem Pharmacol 37: 2837–2841, 1988

    Google Scholar 

  31. Elizabeth K, Rao MNA: Effect of curcumin on hydroxyl radical generation through Fenton reaction. Int J Pharmaceutics 57: 173–176, 1989

    Google Scholar 

  32. Elizabeth K, Rao MNA: Oxygen radical scavenging activity of curcumin. Int J Pharmaceutics 58: 237–240, 1990

    Google Scholar 

  33. Srivastava R: Inhibition of neutrophil response by curcumin. Agents Actions 28: 298–303, 1989

    Google Scholar 

  34. McCord JM: Free radicals and inflammation: Protection of synovial fluid by superoxide dismutase. Science 185: 529–531, 1974

    Google Scholar 

  35. Asthana OP: Annual Report, Central Drug Research Institute, India, 1992–93, p 58

    Google Scholar 

  36. Miller DM, Grover TA, Nayini N, Aust SD: Xanthine oxidase-and iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. Arch Biochem Biophys 301: 1–7, 1993

    Google Scholar 

  37. Rice-Evans C, Burdon R: Free radical-lipid interactions and their pathological consequences. Prog Lipid Res 32: 71–110, 1993

    Google Scholar 

  38. Nagashima K: Inhibitory effect of eugenol on Cu2+-catalyzed lipid peroxidation in human erythrocyte membranes. Int J Biochem 21: 745–749, 1989

    Google Scholar 

  39. Nagababu E, Lakshmaiah N: Inhibitory effect of Eugenol on non-enzymatic lipid peroxidation in rat liver mitochondria. Biochem Pharmacol 43: 2392–2400, 1992

    Google Scholar 

  40. Sreejayan, Rao MNA: Curcumin inhibits iron dependent lipid peroxidation. nt J Pharmaceutics 100: 93–97, 1993

    Google Scholar 

  41. Schaich KM: Free radical and metal complexing activity of curcumin compounds from turmeric. AOCS Annual meeting Abstracts, INFORM 4: 529, 1993, p 8

    Google Scholar 

  42. 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

    Google Scholar 

  43. 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

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, Central Food Technological Research Institute, 570 013, Mysore, India

    A. Ch. Pulla Reddy & Belur R. Lokesh

Authors
  1. A. Ch. Pulla Reddy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Belur R. Lokesh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints 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

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00926033

Key words

Search

Navigation