Curcuma longa attenuates carbon tetrachloride-induced oxidative stress in T-lymphocyte subpopulations.

A comparison of crude curcuminoid extract and purified curcumin was made to evaluate the immunoprotective effect of Curcuma longa (turmeric) Zingiberaceae. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced selective cytolytic effects among immature (PNA(+)) thymocytes and peripheral helper (CD4(+)) T lymphocytes in the spleen were paralleled by a significant reduction in CD25, CD71, and Con A receptor expression. Treatment with curcumanoid crude extract, at two different doses, showed a significant restoration of lymphocyte viability and CD25, CD71, and Con A receptor expression in both immature (PNA+) thymocytes and splenic helper (CD4(+)) T lymphocytes. Turmeric crude extract, at both low and high dose, was found to be more efficient as compared to purified curcumin, suggesting synergistic effect of curcumin with other components of the crude extract.