Metal-induced oxidative damage in cultured hepatocytes and hepatic lysosomal fraction: beneficial effect of a curcumin/absinthium compound.
OBJECTIVE
Metals undergo redox cycling and there is increasing evidence of free radical generation and oxidative injury in the pathogenesis of liver injury and fibrosis in metal storage diseases. The aim of the present study was to test a natural hepatoprotective compound in metal-induced liver injury.


METHODS
Hepatocytes were isolated from Wistar rats by collagenase perfusion method and cultured as such and also with alpha-linolenic acid (LNA)-bovine serum albumin (BSA). Hepatocytes were then cultured with a graded dilution of PN-M001 (100 microg/mL and 200 microg/mL), which is a curcuma/absinthium-containing compound, or sylibin (100 microg/mL) dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide for 10 min before the addition of metallic salts (iron, copper and vanadium). Lysosomal fractions were prepared for lysosome fragility tests in which beta-galactosidase activity and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage were measured, as well as oxidative damage tests in the presence of hydrophilic and lipophilic free radical generators. Quenching activity by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) was also assessed.


RESULTS
Malonildialdehyde accumulation in the medium showed a direct time-course increase with incubation time. Both PN-M001 and sylibin showed a significant protective effect against all challenge metal ions, as expressed by the half inhibition concentration (IC(50)) against lipid peroxidation. However, on a molar ratio, sylibin seemed to be more effective than PN-M001 in Fe-induced peroxidative damage (P < 0.05). Both test compounds, irrespective of the concentration, significantly reduced the LDH and beta-galactosidase concentration in the lysosomal fractions. As compared with untreated lysosomal fractions challenged with the two peroxide radicals generators, either PN-M001 or sylibin exerted significant protection However, PN-M001 was significantly better than sylibin in suppressing acid phosphatase enzyme activity. Both compounds showed comparable and significant DPPH radical-scavenging activity.


CONCLUSIONS
These data support the potential clinical application of curcumin-containing compounds.
Barreto
R
R
Biokenkyujo Research Laboratory, Shizuoka, Japan.
Kawakita
S
S
Tsuchiya
J
J
Minelli
E
E
Pavasuthipaisit
K
K
Helmy
A
A
Marotta
F
F
D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D003300:Copper / Q000633:toxicity*; D004249:DNA Damage; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D007501:Iron / Q000633:toxicity*; D008247:Lysosomes; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D000077385:Silybin; D012838:Silymarin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014639:Vanadium / Q000633:toxicity*
C502600:PN M001; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012838:Silymarin; D014639:Vanadium; D000077385:Silybin; D003300:Copper; D007501:Iron