THE EFFECTS OF SILICON DIOXIDE AND CURCUMIN ON MALONDIALDEHYDE FOUND IN LUNG TISSUE

silica, malondialdehyde, oxidative stress, curcumin Abstract: Chronic inflammation found in silicosis probably implies the presence of an excess of free oxygenated radicals (FOR) with an effect shown through biological markers, such as malondialdehyde (MDA). Our purpose is to evaluate MDA in the lung tissue of Wistar rats, intratrachealy instillated with crystalline SiO2 and protected with curcumin. Results: MDA levels rise significantly early on, 30 days after instillation and remain elevated throughout the entire observation period, the difference in values (measured in nmol/mg protein) recorded at 30 days ( 0.374±0.06), at 90 days (0.441±0.13) and at 120 days (0.440±0.08) being statistically insignificant. Curcumine induces a decrease in MDA at 90 days, reaching values close to the ones observed in the untreated group at 120 days. Conclusions: The prominence of oxidative stress in silicosis benefits from malondialdeyde in lung tissue as a valuable biomarker and curcumin has a positive effect, lowering MDA in the initial phase of inflammation.