title: Attenuation of carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic injury with curcumin-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Curcumin, an established pleiotropic agent, has potential for hepatoprotection owing to its powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antifibrogenic properties. However, its poor bioavailability limits its use in therapeutics. In this study, we aimed to package curcumin into solid lipid nanoparticles (C-SLNs) to improve its bioavailability and compare the efficacy of C-SLNs with that of free curcumin and silymarin, a well-established hepatoprotectant in clinical use, against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatic injury in rats, post-induction. A self-recovery group to which no treatment was given was also employed for quantifying self-healing of hepatic tissue, if any.
  
  
  METHODS
  C-SLNs (particle size 147.6 nm), prepared using a microemulsification technique, were administered to rats post-treatment with CCl4 (1 ml/kg body weight [BW] twice weekly for 2 weeks, followed by 1.5 ml/kg BW twice weekly for the subsequent 2 weeks). The extent of liver damage and repair in terms of histopathology and levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, and reduced glutathione) and a pro-inflammatory response marker, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, were determined in both the CCl4 group and the treatment groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  C-SLNs (12.5 mg/kg) significantly (p < 0.001-0.005) attenuated histopathological changes and oxidative stress, and also decreased induction of ALT, AST, and TNF-α in comparison with free curcumin (100 mg/kg), silymarin (25 mg/kg), and self-recovery groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Curcumin could be used as a therapeutic agent for hepatic disorders, provided it is loaded into a suitable delivery system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Neha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Neeraj
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Khullar
authors.forename: Vandita
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kakkar
authors.forename: Indu Pal
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Kaur
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D008055:Lipids; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D005978:Glutathione; D003474:Curcumin