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Drug Res (Stuttg) 2019; 69(10): 559-564
DOI: 10.1055/a-0863-4355
Original Article
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Pharmacokinetic Profile of Curcumin and Nanocurcumin in Plasma, Ovary, and Other Tissues

Wawaimuli Arozal
1   Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
,
Wenny Trias Ramadanty
2   Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
,
Melva Louisa
1   Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
,
Regina Puspa Utami Satyana
3   Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
,
Gaviota Hartono
3   Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
,
Serlie Fatrin
3   Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
,
Sigit Purbadi
4   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
,
Ari Estuningtyas
1   Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
,
Instiaty Instiaty
1   Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 13 June 2018

accepted 21 February 2019

Publication Date:
18 March 2019 (online)

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Abstract

Background Curcumin is a natural diphenolic compound that is currently being investigated for various cancers, including ovarian cancer. Clinical application of curcumin has been limited due to its low solubility and bioavailability and rapid metabolism and degradation at physiological pH. Particle size is one factor that can affect the absorption process, which thus increases compound solubility and transport across the membrane. This study was conducted to determine the effects of modifying the particle size of curcumin on its pharmacokinetic parameters in blood and other organs.

Methods Female Sprague Dawley rats were administered a single oral dose of 500 mg/kg curcumin or nanocurcumin. Blood samples were collected at 10, 15, 30, 45, 75, and 120 min, and ovaries, livers, kidneys, and colons were collected at 180 min. The levels of curcumin in plasma and organs were determined using UPLC-MS/MS, and the pharmacokinetic parameters were evaluated.

Results Curcumin levels were detectable and measurable in plasma and organs of rats that were administered curcumin or nanocurcumin. Overall, no statistically significant differences were found in pharmacokinetic parameters between curcumin and nanocurcumin groups in both plasma and organs, except for ovaries. The curcumin levels in plasma, liver, kidney, and colon in the curcumin group were higher than those in the nanocurcumin group. However, curcumin concentrations in ovaries in the nanocurcumin group were 3.6 times higher than those in the curcumin group.

Conclusion Particle size reduction of curcumin did not increase the concentration of curcumin in the plasma but increased its distribution in the ovaries.

Key words

curcumin - nanoparticle - pharmacokinetic - ovary
 

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