Curcumin attenuates colistin-induced peripheral neurotoxicity in mice

Peripheral neurotoxicity often occurs in patients receiving parenteral polymyxin therapy (i.e. colistin methanesulfonate or polymyxin B). The present study aimed to investigate the protective effect of curcumin on colistin-induced peripheral neurotoxicity using a murine model. Female C57BL/6 mice (n=10 in each group) were randomly divided into: (1) control group (saline), (2) curcumin only group (200 mg/kg/day; orally), (3) colistin only group (18 mg/kg/day; i.p), (4) colistin (18 mg/kg/day) plus curcumin 50 mg/kg/day, (5) colistin (18 mg/kg/day) plus curcumin 100 mg/kg/day, (6) colistin (18 mg/kg/day) plus curcumin 200 mg/kg/day group; all mice were treated for 7 days. Orally applied curcumin was detected in brain, cerebellum and sciatic nerve. Co-administration of oral curcumin markedly improved colistin-induced impaired sensory and motor dysfunctions in a dose-dependent manner. Curcumin supplementation at 100 and 200 mg/kg significantly decreased lipid peroxidation and up-regulated catalase (CAT) and s...