Curcumin administration suppress acetylcholinesterase gene expression in cadmium treated rats

Curcumin, the main polyphenolic component of turmeric (Curcuma longa) rhizomes have been reported to exert anticholinesterase potential with limited information on how they regulate acetylcholinesterase (AChE) gene expression. Hence, this study sought to evaluate the effect of curcumin on cerebral cortex acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and their mRNA gene expression level in cadmium (Cd)-treated rats. Furthermore, in vitro effect of different concentrations of curcumin (1–5 μg/mL) on rat cerebral cortex AChE activity was assessed. Animals were divided into six groups (n = 6): group 1 serve as control (without Cd) and receive saline/vehicle, group 2 receive saline plus curcumin at 25 mg/kg, group 3 receive saline plus curcumin 50 mg/kg, group 4 receive Cd plus vehicle, group 5 receive Cd plus curcumin at 25 mg/kg and group 6 receive Cd plus curcumin at 50 mg/kg. Rats received Cd (2.5 mg/kg) and curcumin (25 and 50 mg/kg, respectively) by oral gavage for 7 days. Acetylcholinesterase activity was measured by Ellman's method and AChE expression was carried out by a quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assay. We observed that acute administration of Cd increased acetylcholinesterase activity and in addition caused a significant (P < 0.05) increase in AChE mRNA levels in whole cerebral cortex when compared to control group. However, co-treatment with curcumin inhibited AChE activity and alters AChE mRNA levels when compared to Cd-treated group. In addition, curcumin inhibits rat cerebral cortex AChE activity in vitro. In conclusion, curcumin exhibit anti-acetylcholinesterase activity and suppressed AChE mRNA gene expression level in Cd exposed rats, thus providing some biochemical and molecular evidence on the therapeutic effect of this turmeric-derived compound in treating neurological disorders including Alzheimer's disease.