Effect of curcumin nano-micelle on of 1,2, dimethylhydrazine-induced rat colon carcinogenesis in comparison with 5FU

Objective Curcumin, a natural polyphenol that has anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Therapeutic potential of curcumin is substantially limited by the rather low water solubility, rapid metabolism and low bioavailability. Therefore it is necessary for its' suitable carriers. In the present study, it was aimed to assess of polymeric micelles of curcumin on experimental model of colon cancer in Rat. Method Pathogen-free male Sprague–Dawley rats divided into 4 groups. Animals from group A, B, C received DMH intraperitoneal injection once a week at a dose of 20 mg/kg body weight in 0.9% normal saline. Group A, as DMH control. B, C received Nano-micelle curcumin and 5-FU respectively 4 weeks before first carcinogen challenge and continued until week 30 of experimentation. After 4 weeks all animals were killed and their colon removed and investigated for morphological and immunohistochemistry studies of apoptosis and expression of Bcl2, BAX and Caspase9. Results It was observed significant morphological changes in Nano-curcumin groups compared with DMH group but for expression of apoptotic factors, although decrease in Bcl2 expression and increase in BAX and caspase9 observed in Nano-micelle group but these changes were not significant compared with DMH group (P > 0.05). Conclusion Results of this study indicate that Nano-micelle of curcumin has some preventive effect in experimental model of colon cancer in vivo but has not induced complete apoptotic effect and more studies that are complete are needed.