title: Curcumin or saikosaponin a improves hepatic antioxidant capacity and protects against CCl4-induced liver injury in rats.
abstract: Curcumin and saikosaponin a, the bioactive phytochemicals of turmeric and Bupleurum, act as antioxidants. This study investigated the effects of supplementation with curcumin and/or saikosaponin a on hepatic lipids and antioxidant status in rats with CCl(4)-induced liver injury. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control, CCl(4), CCl(4) + curcumin (0.005%; CU), CCl(4) + saikosaponin a (0.004%; SS), and CCl(4) + curcumin + saikosaponin a (0.005% + 0.004%; CU+SS) groups. CCl(4) (40% in olive oil) was injected intraperitoneally at a dose of 0.75 mL/kg once a week. Curcumin and/or saikosaponin a was administered orally 1 week before CCl(4) injection for 8 weeks. The pathological results showed that liver fibrosis was ameliorated in the SS and CU+SS groups. After 8 weeks, supplementation with curcumin and/or saikosaponin a significantly decreased plasma alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities, as well as plasma and hepatic cholesterol and triglyceride levels. The CU+SS group showed reversal of the impaired hepatic superoxide dismutase activity and an increase in total glutathione level. Supplementation with curcumin and/or saikosaponin a significantly improved hepatic antioxidant status and suppressed malondialdehyde formation. Therefore, supplementation with curcumin and/or saikosaponin a protects against CCl(4)-induced liver injury by attenuating hepatic lipids and lipid peroxidation and enhancing antioxidant defense. Curcumin and saikosaponin a had no additive effects on hepatoprotection except for greater improvement in the total glutathione level and antioxidant status.
authors.affiliation: Schools of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shu-Ju
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yun-Ho
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chia-Chou
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Ya-Hui
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Jane C-J
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Chao
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000633:toxicity*; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; D003474:Curcumin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000032:analysis; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D009828:Oleanolic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012503:Saponins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D008055:Lipids; D012503:Saponins; D009828:Oleanolic Acid; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D005978:Glutathione; D003474:Curcumin; C025759:saikosaponin D