Abstract

CURCUMIN AND LIVER CIRRHOSIS

Syada Nuzhat Fatima zaidi* and Tabassum Mahboob

ABSTRACT

Aim:This study was designed to evaluate the effects of curcumin supplementation on different biochemical parameters in thioacetamide induced cirrhotic rats. For this purpose 24 male. Albino wistar rats were divided into four groups (n=6). Group I, remained healthy control rats, Group II, received thioacetamide (at a dose of 200mg/kg b.w, twice a week i.p, for 12 weeks) in first phase and saline in second phase, Group III, received thioacetamide (200mg/kg b.w, i.p for 12 weeks, twice a week) in first phase and curcumin (50 mg/kg b.w/day, i.p. for 12 weeks ) in second phase and Group IV, received curcumin (50 mg/kg b.w/day, i.p. for 12 weeks) in first phase and saline in second phase. Main methods: Biochemical analysis was evaluated by total and direct bilirubin (Sherlock, 1951), plasma and intraerythrocyte sodium and potassium (Tabssum et al., 1996), liver specific enzymes (Retiman and Franhel, 1957), and antioxidant enzymes [SOD (Kono et al., 1978), Catalase (Sinha et al., 1979) ,Glutathione reductase (Calberg and Mannervik, 1985) and MDA (Okhawa et al., 1979)]. Key findings: Marked increase in total and direct bilirubin and ALT activity was the indicative markers of liver cirrhosis while reduced antioxidant activity (SOD and GSH) and increased MDA and Catalase levels and disturbed electrolyte homeostasis were observed in cirrhotic group. Curcumin supplementation markedly reduced total bilirubin and ALT activity and restored the antioxidant enzymes (SOD and GSH) and MDA and catalase activity and electrolyte homeostasis. Significance: These results indicate that curcumin successively attenuates the thioacetamide induced liver cirrhosis.

Keywords: Liver cirrhosis, Curcumin, thioacetamide, liver enzymes, Super oxidedismutase, GSH, Catalase, Malondialdehyde. Plasma sodium and potassium, Intraerythrocyte sodium and potassium