The Effect of Curcumin on 5-Lipoxygenase (5-LO) Levels in the Hearts of Wistar Rats (Rattus norvegicus) as a Preeclampsia Model

Pertiwi, Berliana Noviasih (Master's Program, Midwifery Study Program, Faculty of Medicine, Brawijaya University, Malang, Indonesia)
Sukaji, Lina Zafirah (Master's Program, Midwifery Study Program, Faculty of Medicine, Brawijaya University, Malang, Indonesia)
Rahardjo, Bambang (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Brawijaya University, Malang, Indonesia)
Wati, Linda Ratna (Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine, Brawijaya University, Malang, Indonesia)

Contagion: Scientific Periodical Journal of Public Health and Coastal Health
Vol 7, No 3 (2025): CONTAGION

Excessive activation of the 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) pathway plays a pivotal role in promoting inflammation and endothelial dysfunction, thereby aggravating cardiovascular complications in preeclampsia. Curcumin, a natural polyphenolic compound with well-established anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, has been suggested to suppress 5-LO activity. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of curcumin administration on cardiac 5-LO levels in pregnant Wistar rats with an L-NAME?induced preeclampsia model. A true experimental post-test?only control group design was conducted using 25 pregnant Wistar rats divided into five groups, consisting of a negative control, a positive control receiving L-NAME, and three treatment groups administered curcumin at doses of 30, 50, or 100 mg/kg body weight alongside L-NAME. Preeclampsia was induced by L-NAME administration at a dose of 125 mg/kg body weight from gestational day 13 to 19, while curcumin was given orally during the same period. Cardiac 5-LO levels were measured from serum samples using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey?s post hoc test with a significance level of p < 0.05. The results showed a marked elevation of cardiac 5-LO levels in the positive control group compared to the negative control. Curcumin administration significantly reduced 5-LO levels at all tested doses, with the most pronounced effect observed at 100 mg/kg body weight. Furthermore, a very strong negative correlation was identified between curcumin dose and cardiac 5-LO levels (r = &#8722;0.871), indicating a clear dose-dependent response. These findings demonstrate that curcumin effectively suppresses cardiac 5-LO levels in a dose-dependent manner in a preeclampsia rat model and highlight its potential clinical relevance as a natural adjunct therapy for mitigating cardiovascular inflammation and endothelial dysfunction associated with preeclampsiaKeywords: Curcumin, 5-Lipoxygenase, Inflammation, Heart, Preeclampsia