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Protective effect of curcumin against microplastic and nanoplastics toxicity
Summary
Researchers reviewed studies examining whether curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, can protect against the toxic effects of micro- and nanoplastics in the body. Evidence indicates that curcumin helped reduce oxidative stress, inflammation, and organ damage caused by plastic particle exposure across multiple organ systems in animal studies. The review suggests that natural antioxidant compounds like curcumin may hold promise for mitigating some of the harmful effects of plastic pollution on health.
Microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) are present in urban dust and the aquatic environments of industrialized cities. MNPs in the human body accumulate in the lymphoid follicles, Peyer's patches of the gastrointestinal tract, and pulmonary vascular endothelial cells, which slowly result in toxicity. Since previous studies introduced curcumin as a natural protective agent against environmental toxins, we reviewed preclinical studies that had used curcumin to protect organs or cells from toxicity secondary to exposure to MNPs. It was found that exposure to MNPs resulted in osteolysis, immunotoxicity, thyroid disturbances, nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, pulmonary toxicity, gastrointestinal toxicity, cardiovascular toxicity, and especially endocrine, and reproductive toxicity. Nevertheless, except for one study reviewed, curcumin restored all oxidative and histopathological damages induced by MNPs to normal due to curcumin's inherent antioxidant, antiapoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-proliferative properties.
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