Modulatory Effects of Curcumin and Pirfenidone on Hematological, Oxidative, Immunohistochemical evaluation of iNOS in Responses to Potassium Dichromate in Male Wistar Rats.

• Duha M. Abbas1* and Al-Tamemi, Zena Shakir Mahmoud 1*

  Author

 This study was aimed to evaluate the protective role of curcumin and pirfenidone alone or in combination against potassium dichromate induced toxicity in adult male Wistar rats. Rats (n = 40) were randomly assigned to five groups (n= 8/groups) and treated for 28 days. Animals were administered intranasally potassium dichromate at (2 mg/kg) on days 1, 14 and 28 and orally curcumin (150 mg/kg/day) and pirfenidone (125 mg/kg/day).

 Potassium dichromate caused significant hematological changes (p < 0.05) with increased WBC count and decreased RBC, hemoglobin and platelet counts. Exposure to K₂Cr₂O₇ also significantly increased NO levels and markedly up-regulated iNOS immunoreactivity suggesting increased inflammatory and nitrosative responses.

 Treatment with curcumin or pirfenidone significantly ameliorated the hematological alterations, NO levels and iNOS expression compared with the potassium dichromate group (p < 0.05. Pirfenidone also dropped to reduce the inflammatory and nitrosative responses provoked by potassium dichromate, while curcumin had a more

pronounced effect on the hematological parameters and NO levels.

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