EFFECT OF DIETARY TURMERIC (CURCUMA LONGA) ON IRON-INDUCED LIPID PEROXIDATION IN THE RAT LIVER

The presence of curcumin and turmerin makes turmeric an excellent dietary antioxidant. However, no studies have been carried out to test the efficacy of turmeric in lowering
lipid peroxidation in vivo. Using a model system developed by Tappel and his colleagues for measuring in vivo lipid peroxidation (Hu et al., 1990), we have demonstrated that dietary turmeric lowers lipid peroxidation in rat liver homogenates and microsomes. Further, we have demonstrated that feeding turmeric to rats also modulates the antioxidant enzymes in a manner that favours the lowering of lipid peroxidation.