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

Male Wistar rats were fed a control diet or the control diet supplemen ted with 1% (by weight) turmeric for 10 wk. In rats injected with 30 m g Fe2+/kg body weight, Lipid peroxidation was 29 and 35% lower in live r homogenates and microsomes, respectively, of turmeric-fed rats than in those of rats fed the control diet. The activities of superoxide di smutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase were higher (by 19, 19 an d 20%, respectively) in liver homogenates of rats fed the turmeric-con taining diet in comparison with the controls. These studies indicate t hat dietary turmeric lowers lipid peroxidation by enhancing the activi ties of antioxidant enzymes.