POSTNATAL MODULATION OF HEPATIC BIOTRANSFORMATION SYSTEM ENZYMES VIA TRANSLACTATIONAL EXPOSURE OF F1 MOUSE PUPS TO TURMERIC AND CURCUMIN

The potential for the transfer of active principle(s) of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) and curcumin (major pigment in turmeric) via translactational route and its modulatory influence on the hepatic biotransformation system enzymes in the lactating darns and their suckling offspring was assessed. Turmeric (4 g/kg b.w. per day) and curcumin (0.4 g/kg b.w. per day) induced significant (P < 0.01) increase in the hepatic levels of glutathione S-transferase (GST) and acid soluble sulfhydryl (-SH) after 14 or 21 days treatment in lactating dams and translactationally exposed F-1 pups. However the lower dose of curcumin (0.2 g/kg b.w. per day) could modulate hepatic GST activity (P < 0.05) and -SH (P < 0.01) only after 21 days of treatment in darns and pups. Cytochrome b(5) and cytochrome P450 levels were significantly elevated (P < 0.05) in the dams as well as their suckling pups of both 14 and 21 days age groups at the selected dose levels of turmeric (4 g/kg b.w.) and curcumin (0.4 g/kg b.w.). The induction in hepatic biotransformation system enzymes in lactating dams and F-1 progeny suggests the passage of active constituents and/or metabolites of turmeric and curcumin via the translactational route.