Curcumin Improves the Efficacy of BMSCs in Myocardial Ischemia Injury in Rat

Myocardial infarction can be associated with irreversal myocardial ischemia and the necrosis of the affected site of
the heart. Curcumin has a protective effect on Myocardial Ischemia.
Objectives: Our study aimed to combine a regenerative medicine with a traditional antioxidant effects as an adjuvant for the treat-
ment of isoproterenol-induced MI.
Methods: This experimental study conducted on 36 adult male Wistar rats in an university-affiliated animal lab, Urmia, Iran, in
2016. Male rats were divided into six groups of six rats, including control, MI (ISO 100 mg/kg), curcumin (80 mg/kg by oral gavage),
Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells (BMSCs; 4 × intravenous injection), and Cur-BMSCs. The efficiency of these methods was
evaluated by histopathological examination, immunohistochemistry, measurement of heart rate, heart to body weight ratio, size
of infarction, and serum levels of CK-MB, LDH, MDA, and SOD.
Results: The benefit of curcumin was apparent in two recipient groups. The rats that received curcumin or were treated with BMSCs
showed significant reductions in heart to body weight ratio (P < 0.001). The elevation of serum levels of CPK, LDH, MDA, and SOD (P
< 0.001) was done in curcumin treatment groups. Decreases in the number of apoptotic cells were significant in cur (P < 0.001) and
cur-BMSCs (P = 0.023) groups; histopathological injuries were recognized significantly in cur (P < 0.001) and cur-BMSCs (P = 0.012)
groups, and infarct size was significant in both curcumin groups (P < 0.001).
Conclusions: Curcumin pretreatment of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells helps in stem cells transplantation and acts as a
synergi