[Therapeutic effects of curcumin treatment on hepatic fibrosis].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of curcumin treatment on hepatic fibrosis.


METHODS
A model of hepatic fibrosis was established using carbon tetrachloride intraperitoneal injections in rats. Curcumin was administered to one group of the model rats (curcumin group) and the other rats were used as controls (control group). Serum levels of ALT, AST, HA, LN, PCIII, and NO were measured, and Hyp, MDA, and SOD in liver tissues were measured. Liver tissue slides were stained with HE and Masson staining to study the pathological changes in the livers. Grades of hepatic fibrosis were evaluated according to a semiquantitative scoring system.


RESULTS
In the curcumin group, serum levels of ALT, AST, NO, HA, LN, PCIII, MDA, and Hyp, were (218.50+/-48.89) U/L, (376.60+/-79.13) U/L, (47.96+/-6.53) micromol/L, (289.96+/-60.43) mg/L, (107.35+/-27.24) mg/L, (148.95+/-28.63) microg/L, (236.10+/-30.54) nmol/g, (478.40+/-75.74) microg/g and all were lower than those of the control group (693.75+/-117.57) U/L, (892.50+/-105.69) U/L, (70.95+/-10.23) micromol/L, (468.22+/-93.45) mg/L, (346.44+/-75.08) mg/L, (279.82+/-54.00) microg/L, (402.25+/-39.16) nmol/g, and (752.50+/-77.62) microg/g. The differences were significant. In the curcumin group, the level of SOD (90.39+/-21.23) in the liver tissues was significantly higher than that of the control group (46.52+/-20.01). The hepatic fibrosis scores in the curcumin group were significantly lower than those of the control group. These effects were dose-dependent.


CONCLUSIONS
Curcumin reduces rat hepatic fibrosis. Anti-peroxidation and regulation of collagen metabolism in liver tissues may be involved in the therapeutic effectiveness of curcumin on hepatic fibrosis.
Shu
Jian-chang
JC
Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital of the Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510220, China. shujc62@hotmail.com
Ye
Guo-rong
GR
Lü
Xia
X
Fang
Li
L
Wu
Hai-en
HE
Chen
Xiao-juan
XJ
D000818:Animals; D003474:Curcumin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D003474:Curcumin