Exposure to ionizing radiation is known to have lethal effects in blood cells. It is predicted
that an individual may spend days, weeks or even months in radiation field without becoming
alarmed. The present study has been carried out to investigate the possible therapeutic effect of
curcumin loaded iron oxide nanoparticles through injection after body gamma irradiation of rats.
We have shown that the curcumin loaded magnetic nanoparticles administration reduced the lethal
effect by gamma radiation. Results showed that whole body gamma irradiation of rats at 6 Gy
(single dose) induced significant hematological disorders such as, decrease in the red blood cells
count, hemoglobin levels, decline in WBC, lymphocytes, Neutrophils, Monocytes, highly
significant increase in malondialdehyde MDA, However decreased in catalase CAT and reduced
glutathione GSH was observed after three weeks post-irradiation. Administration of curcumin
loaded magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4) after irradiation induced significant improvement
of the hematological parameter and MDA, GSH and CAT changes induced by subsequent gamma
irradiation.