title: Curcumin prevents paracetamol-induced liver mitochondrial alterations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the present study was evaluated if curcumin is able to attenuate paracetamol (PCM)-induced mitochondrial alterations in liver of mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mice (n = 5-6/group) received curcumin (35, 50 or 100 mg/kg bw) 90 min before PCM injection (350 mg/kg bw). Plasma activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was measured; histological analyses were done; and measurement of mitochondrial oxygen consumption, mitochondrial membrane potential, ATP synthesis, aconitase activity and activity of respiratory complexes was carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Curcumin prevented in a dose-dependent manner PCM-induced liver damage. Curcumin (100 mg/kg) attenuated PCM-induced liver histological damage (damaged hepatocytes from 28.3 ± 7.7 to 8.3 ± 0.7%) and increment in plasma ALT (from 2300 ± 150 to 690 ± 28 U/l) and AST (from 1603 ± 43 to 379 ± 22 U/l) activity. Moreover, curcumin attenuated the decrease in oxygen consumption using either succinate or malate/glutamate as substrates (evaluated by state 3, respiratory control ratio, uncoupled respiration and adenosine diphosphate/oxygen ratio), in membrane potential, in ATP synthesis, in aconitase activity and in the activity of respiratory complexes I, III and IV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that the protective effect of curcumin in PCM-induced hepatotoxicity is associated with attenuation of mitochondrial dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Chemistry, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), University City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Luis Fernando
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Granados-Castro
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Chemistry, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), University City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Daniela Sarai
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Rangel
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Chemistry, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), University City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Berenice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fernández-Rojas
authors.affiliation: Experimental Pathology Section, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición "Salvador Zubirán", México, Mexico.
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: León-Contreras
authors.affiliation: Experimental Pathology Section, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición "Salvador Zubirán", México, Mexico.
authors.forename: Rogelio
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hernández-Pando
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Chemistry, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), University City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Omar Noel
authors.initials: ON
authors.lastname: Medina-Campos
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Chemistry, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), University City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Dianelena
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Eugenio-Pérez
authors.affiliation: Animal Care Unit, Faculty of Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), University City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pinzón
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Chemistry, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), University City, Mexico.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pedraza-Chaverri
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003474:Curcumin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D020011:Protective Agents; D000082:Acetaminophen; D003474:Curcumin
keywords: aconitase; adenosine triphosphate synthesis; mitochondrial dysfunction; mitochondrial membrane potential; respiratory complexes