Evaluation of curcumin as potential herbal agent for mitigation of nickel and chromium induced micronuclei in human blood cultures

Chromium and nickel are widely used industrial chemicals.Welders in India are inclined to possible occupational chromium and nickel exposure. We have investigated the Genotoxicity exerted by nickel (Ni) in the form of nickel chloride (4.216 X 10⁻⁵M) and chromium (Cr) in the form of potassium dichromate (1.36 X 10^{6M), alone and in combination and mitigating effect of curcumin (3.87 X 10−7M) was studied at two different exposure intervals (24 and 69 hours) in toxicant added human blood cultures. Evaluation of genotoxicity was done by micronuclei (MN) assay. One thousand binucleate cells per group were analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed by one way ANOVA followed by Dunett's test and percentage amelioration was calculated. Nickel and chromium proved to be more toxic in 69-hours exposure than in 24 hours in induction of micronuclei. Curcumin supplementation exhibited significant (71%-92%) amelioration at both exposure intervals. Hence, curcumin has a mitigating effect against micronuclei induced by metal salts due to its antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties.}