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Abstract
Long-term exposure to nicotine severely affects the immune system. Nicotine-addicted women suffer more to diseases because of their history to several disorders or susceptibility to nicotine-related morbidity and mortality. The beneficial uses of nano-curcumin in nicotine-addicted women are still unknown, possibly due to its poor pharmacokinetics and limited bioavailability. Nanocurcumin is administered to study the immune-protective effects in nicotine exposed female rats. Female albino rats of Wistar strain (Rattus norvegicus) are nicotine injected (2.5 mg/kg bodyweights s.c., daily) for 21 days. Three hours later nanocurcumin is administered by oral gavages (4 mg/kg bodyweights/day). The dose and period of nanocurcumin is adopted from our earlier publications elsewhere. Animals are eradicated after the treatment period and immune-related cytokines, apoptotic markers, sex hormones and other parameters are measured from individual serum. Molecular docking, as well as, in vitro interactions of nanocurcumin with nicotine and some specific cellular proteins are measured for understanding the mechanism of action of nanocurcumin. Nanocurcumin reduced protein oxidation, augmented the immune system by regulating the expression of immunity-related cytokines and apoptotic markers. It helps maintaining the healthy levels of sex hormones and protein content of cells under nicotine-stressed condition. Molecular docking and in vitro interactions reveal that nanocurcumin possesses higher binding ability to nicotine and several cellular proteins. Cytokines, apoptotic markers and steroidogenic hormones are severely affected by nicotine exposure. Bio-soluble nanocurcumin acts as significant immune-modulator, which offers better protection than curcumin to female rats from nicotine-induced complications. Heightened therapeutic effects of nanocurcumin are discussed.