Hepatoprotective effect of curcumin in lipopolysaccharide/-galactosamine model of liver injury in rats: relationship to HO-1/CO antioxidant system

Abstract

This work studied a relationship between HO-1/CO system and lipid peroxidation with consequent effects on liver functions and NOS-2. We focused on curcumin pretreatment in rat toxic model of d-galactosamine and lipopolysaccharide. Hepatocyte viability, lipid peroxidation, antioxidant status, ALT and AST were evaluated. HO-1 and NOS-2 expressions and respective enzyme activity were determined. Curcumin caused decreases in ALT and AST levels as well as in lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, curcumin pretreatment increased liver HO-1 (2.4-fold, p=0.001), but reduced NOS-2 (4.1-fold, p=0.01) expressions. In conclusion, the tuning of CO/NO pathways is important in shedding light on curcumin's cytoprotective effects in this model.