title: Hepatoprotective effect of Curcuma longa L. in D-galactosamine induced liver injury in mice: evidence of antioxidant activity.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of methanolic extract of Curcuma longa L (CLME) in D-galactosamine (GNH2) induced liver injury and the mechanism(s) involved. The ability of vitamin C (VC) to attenuate the toxicity was also examined. Mice were pretreated with CLME and VC at a dose of 100-mg/kg per oral for seven consecutive days before challenge with a dose of GNH2 (800 mg/kg i.p.). Integrity of liver from the animals was assessed by determining the levels of serum alanine and aspartate aminotransferases (ALT and AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The antioxidant status was monitored by the levels of hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione-s-transferase (GST), glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) (Lipid peroxidation (LPO) index). GNH2 treatment markedly increased the levels of serum ALT and AST, which were significantly (p<0.05) attenuated in animals pretreated with CLME and VC. Also, CLME significantly (p<0.05) increased the levels of hepatic GST and SOD, with a concomitant marked reduction in the levels of hepatic and serum LPO in the GNH2-challenged mice. Furthermore, hepatic GSH which was decreased after GNH2 intoxication, was significantly (p<0.05) enhanced by cotreatment with CLME and VC. However, there were no significant differences (p>0.05) in the levels ofALP and CAT of these animals. The liver histopathology results revealed that GNH2-induced injury was prevented in mice co-treated with VC and CLME. The results suggest that the hepatoprotective effect of CLME in GNH2 induced liver injury may be related to its antioxidant activity.
authors.affiliation: Drug Metabolism and Toxicology Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. aoadaramoye@yahoo.com
authors.forename: O A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Adaramoye
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Odunewu
authors.forename: E O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Farombi
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D002374:Catalase / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000517:prevention & control*; D030024:Curcuma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005688:Galactosamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D024505:Tocopherols / Q000494:pharmacology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D005688:Galactosamine; D002374:Catalase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D005978:Glutathione; D024505:Tocopherols