Abstract
Background and Objective: Curcumin, an active compound derived from turmeric (Curcuma longa) was noticed to have health promoting effects through modulating various biological activities.The present study was carried out to assess the hepatoprotective effect of curcumin in CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity rats. Materials and Methods: Liver function enzymes activity was evaluated using the spectrophotometric method.The levels of inflammatory markers were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Moreover, antioxidant enzymes (Catalase, glutathione-S-transferase) were assayed in the serum calorimetrically. Haematoxylin-eosin staining was performed to examine the histopathological changes. In addition, expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein was evaluated through immunohistochemical staining. Statistical comparison between groups was made via using SPSS software by matching analysis of variance. A p<0.05 was measured to be statistically significant. Results: Oral administration of CCl4, into rats for 8 weeks had resulted in significant decrease of the serum level of the antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase. It had also significantly increased the serum level of the liver function enzymes such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and proinflammatory markers. Oral administration of 50 mg kg(-1) b.wt., of curcumin evidences a significant protection against CCl4, induced liver damage as measured in terms of liver function enzymes, antioxidant enzymes, inflammatory markers and histopathological parameters. Moreover, curcumin treatments protected against CCl4 -induced liver damage by maintaining histological damage. Conclusion: Based on these findings, it is concluded that antioxidant effect of curcumin could protect liver injury and normalize the architecture of hepatocytes against CCl4, induced toxicity