Curcumin, a compound found in turmeric, may help protect against kidney damage caused by nanoplastics, according to a study published in Food & Function.
Researchers studying polystyrene nanoplastics—tiny fragments formed as plastic breaks down—found that exposure triggered significant kidney injury, including increased markers of damage, oxidative stress, inflammation and cell death.
When curcumin was administered, these effects were substantially reduced, the study found.
The compound worked by suppressing the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway linked to inflammation and stress, while also regulating proteins involved in cell survival and lowering reactive oxygen species and DNA damage.
The authors said the findings highlight curcumin’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and suggest it may help counter health risks associated with nanoplastic exposure.
However, the results were based on laboratory and animal models, and further research is needed to determine whether similar effects occur in humans.