Comparative Studies on the Antioxidant Profiles of Curcumin and Bisdemethoxycurcumin in Erythrocytes and Broiler Chickens

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant effects of curcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin in both 2,20-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH)-treated erythrocytes and broiler chickens. In experiment 1, chicken erythrocytes were employed to determine the antioxidant protection against AAPH treatment. Significant differences in hemolysis, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were observed between the control and curcuminoids-treated groups. In experiment 2, a total of 480 Arbor Acres broilers with the similar body weights were used. All of the birds were fed basal diet and basal diet with 150 mg/kg curcumin or bisdemethoxycurcumin, respectively. The results showed that curcuminoids significantly increased ADG, serum antioxidant capacity, the glutathione redox potential of small intestine, the gene expression of Nrf2, and its related antioxidant enzymes. Besides, curcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin increased the antioxidant activities of serum, diet, and excreta while using the 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt and ferric-reducing antioxidant power methods. It was concluded that bisdemethoxycurcumin, acting like curcumin, exerted good free radical scavenging activity in erythrocytes and improved the redox status in broilers, although there were some slight differences in their efficiency of antioxidant activities.

Keywords: bisdemethoxycurcumin; broiler; curcumin; erythrocytes; redox potential.

Figure 1

Effects of curcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin on the hemolysis in 2,20-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH)-treated erythrocytes (Experiment 1). Results are expressed as the mean ± SEM. Columns labeled with different letters are significantly different (p < 0.05). CON group, the normal chicken erythrocytes; AAPH group, the chicken erythrocytes incubated with AAPH; CUR, the chicken erythrocytes pre-incubated with curcumin and followed by AAPH treatment; BUR group, the chicken erythrocytes pre-incubated with bisdemethoxycurcumin and followed by AAPH treatment.

Figure 2

Effects of curcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin on (A) the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and (B) malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in AAPH-treated erythrocytes (Experiment 1). Results are expressed as the mean ± SEM. Columns labeled with different letters are significantly different (p < 0.05). CON group, the normal chicken erythrocytes; AAPH group, the chicken erythrocytes incubated with AAPH; CUR, the chicken erythrocytes pre-incubated with curcumin and followed by AAPH treatment; BUR group, the chicken erythrocytes pre-incubated with bisdemethoxycurcumin and followed by AAPH treatment.

Figure 3

Effects of curcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin on the antioxidant capacity of diets, excreta, serum, and small intestinal content (duodenum, jejunum and ileum) while using the (A) ABTS and (B) FRAP methods in broiler chickens (Experiment 2). Results are expressed as the mean ± SEM. Columns labeled with different letters are significantly different (p < 0.05). CON group, birds were fed the basal diet; CUR group, birds were fed the basal diet with 150 mg/kg curcumin; BUR group, birds were fed the basal diet with 150 mg/kg bisdemethoxycurcumin.