Effect of curcumin on cisplatin- and oxaliplatin-induced oxidative stress in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells

Generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is involved in the nephrotoxicity of platinum anticancer drugs. This study involved incubation of human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells in cell culture media supplemented with cisplatin or oxaliplatin in the presence or absence of curcumin, a well-studied antioxidant. Thereafter several indices of oxidative stress have been measured, which included glutathione (GSH), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and antioxidant enzymes [(superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidases (GPX)]. The impact of platinum drugs on cells viability, lipid peroxidation, and lactate dehydrogenase leakage was also examined. The results show that at both acute (60 min) and chronic (24 h) durations of incubation, cisplatin and oxaliplatin induced oxidative stress as evidenced by significant inhibition of the activities of SOD, CAT, and GPX enzymes as well as significant reduction of the concentrations of GSH and TAC. Curcumin ameliorated the oxidative stress induced by these insults by significantly restoring the measured oxidative indices. Our findings provide evidence that curcumin significantly ameliorates oxidative stress induced by both cisplatin and oxaliplatin in HEK cells.