POTENTIAL OF CURCUMIN IN PYRAMID CELL NECROSIS OF MICE (MUS MUSCULUS) DUE TO METHYLMERCURY EXPOSURE

Mercury pollution in the aquatic environment can cause intoxication of marine organisms and the formation of free radicals in the human body if consumed. Curcumin is a natural ingredient that contains extracellular antioxidants to overcome the formation of free radicals in the body. The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of administering curcumin to the number of pyramid cells that were necrotic in mice (Mus musculus) exposed to methylmercury. This experiment used a completely randomized design with 4 groups of mice, i.e. 0.5 ml distilled water, 0.056 mg/kg methylmercury, 0.0056 mg/kg methylmercury + 150 mg/kg curcumin and 0.0056 mg/kg methylmercury + 300 mg/kg curcumin. Examination of total pyramid cell necrosis was observed with a 400x magnification light microscope. In this study, there was a decrease in the number of pyramid cell necrosis in mice. The decrease in the number of necrotic cells was directly proportional to the increase in dose given. The treatment results as positive controls showed the highest value with the number of pyramid cells experiencing necrosis of 23.28. The highest decreases in the number of each treatment were 10.32 in 150 mg/kgBW curcumin and 5.80 in 300 mg/kgBW curcumin. Curcumin can reduce the number of pyramid cells that experience necrosis due to exposure to methylmercury.