Effects of Curcumin on Bioavailability of Dioxin-Like Pollutants in Rats

Abstract In this study, we used Sprague–Dawley rats to observe the intervention effects of curcumin on bioavailability of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs). We reported the bioavailability of tetra- to hexa-chlorinated PCDD/Fs rose gradually, while that of hepta- and octa-chlorinated PCDD/Fs declined, and no obvious change was found in the bioavailability of DL-PCBs. Curcumin markedly reduced the toxic equivalent (TEQ) of PCDD/Fs in rats, illustrating it might competitively inhibit absorption of PCDD/Fs in small intestinal epithelial cells due to the similar chemical structure (diphenyl) between curcumin and PCDD/Fs. Moreover, curcumin was capable of lowering the TEQ of DL-PCBs in the liver of male rats, but caused no changes in female rats. In conclusion, the prominent decline in the bioavailability of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs induced by curcumin may serve as one of the detoxification mechanisms of curcumin for these pollutants.