AMELIORATIVE EFFECTS OF CURCUMIN TREATMENT ON SELECTED GROWTH INDICES OF MALE WISTAR RATS EXPOSED TO BENZO[A]PYRENE

Abstract

The study evaluated the ameliorative effects of curcumin on selected growth performance indices of benzo[a]pyrene treated male Wistar rats. The wistar rats (n=6/group) were divided into five groups. Group 1(Control) rats were given rat feed and normal drinking water whereas groups II, III, IV and V were given benzo[a]pyrene (1mg) only, benzo[a]pyrene (1mg) with 50mg/kg body weight (bw) curcumin, benzo[a]pyrene (1mg) with 100mg/kg bw curcumin, benzo[a]pyrene (1mg) with 200mg/kg curcumin respectively. Rats were acclimatized for 7days before they were orally administered the varying doses of benzo[a]pyrene and curcumin every other day for 6weeks. Growth performance of the animals in the study was evaluated in terms of feed intake, percentage weight gain (%), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and percentage mortality rate. Results of the study showed that benzo[a]pyrene treatment triggered reduced (p<0.05) percentage weight gain (PWG), increased (p<0.05) feed conversion ratio (FCR) and percentage mortality (PM) in rats but curcumin treatments (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg bw) reversed the effects. Curcumin treatment seemed to be effective in ameliorating the toxic effects of benzo[a]pyrene on growth performance in the rats.