Curcuma Oil ameliorates insulin resistance and associated thrombotic complications in hamster and rat

Abstract

Background and objectives: Curcuma Oil (C. Oil) isolated from Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) has shown neuroprotective, anti-cancer, anti-oxidant and anti-hyperlipidemic effect in experimental animal models, yet its effect in insulin resistant animals remains unclear. Therefore, present study was aimed to investigate the disease modifying potential and underlying mechanisms of the C. Oil in animal models of dietary induced insulin resistance and associated thrombotic complications. Methods: Male Golden Syrian hamsters on high fructose cholesterol diet (HFr) for three months were treated orally with vehicle, fenofibrate (30mg/kg) or C. Oil (300mg/kg) for last one month. Wistar rats fed HFr for three months were treated orally with C. Oil (300mg/kg) for last two weeks. Results: Animals fed HFr diet for 12 weeks demonstrated hyperlipidemia, hyperinsulinemia, alteration in insulin sensitivity indices, increased lipid peroxidation, inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, platelet free radical generation, tyrosine phosphorylation, aggregation, adhesion and intravascular thrombosis. C. Oil treatment for last one month in hamsters ameliorated HFr-induced insulin resistance, oxidative stress, inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, platelet activation and thrombosis. In HFr fed hamsters the effect of C. Oil at 300 mg/kg was comparable with the standard drug fenofibrate. C. Oil treatment for last 2 weeks in rats ameliorated HFr-induced hyperinsulinemia by modulating hepatic expression of SREBP-1c, PGC-1α and PGC-1β genes which are involved in lipid and glucose metabolism. Interpretation and Conclusion: C. Oil prevents development of thrombotic complications associated with insulin resistance by modulating genes involved in lipid and glucose metabolism.