Curcumin Inhibits Acute Vascular Inflammation through the Activation of Heme Oxygenase-1

Figure 1

Curcumin induces HO-1 expression in NZW rabbits. (a, b) NZW rabbits were fed a control diet or control diet supplemented with 0.3% curcumin (wt/wt) for 4 weeks. During this time, the animals received daily ip injections of PBS or ZnPP (7.5 mg/kg). After four weeks, a nonocclusive silastic collar was placed around the left common carotid artery. The animals were euthanised 24 hours after collar implantation. Quantification of the HO-1 mRNA levels (fold of control) in the collared and noncollared carotid arteries (a) and in the liver and spleen (b) is shown. (c, d) HO activity in the liver and spleen (c) and serum bilirubin levels (d) from the rabbits that received the control diet or control diet supplemented with 0.3% curcumin (wt/wt) with and without ip ZnPP (7.5 mg/kg) injections. The results are represented as the mean ± SEM, per group, indicates compared to control.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)