Investigation of curcumin effects on doxorubicin-induced liver damage in rats

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of curcumin (CMN) on doxorubicin (DXR) induced liver injury. In the study, 35 male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups as 7 rats in each group. Group 1 (Control): Oral saline was administered. Group 2 (CMN group): CMN (200 mg kg-1 weight day) was given orally to rats for 7 days. Group 3 (DXR group): DXR (40 mg kg-1) was injected intraperitoneally into the rats on day 5 as a single dose. Group 4 (DXR+CMN 100 group): A single dose of DXR (40 mg kg-1) was injected intraperitoneally into the rats on day 5 of CMN administration for 7 days (100 mg kg-1 day). Group 5 (DXR+CMN 200 group): A single dose of DXR (40 mg kg-1) was injected intraperitoneally into the rats on the 5th day of CMN administration for 7 days (200 mg kg-1 day). After twenty-four hours of the experimental application, rats were euthanized under light sevoflurane anesthesia, and tissues and blood samples were taken. Serum Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) and Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) levels, Malondialdehyde (MDA), Glutathione (GSH) and Nitric Oxide (NO.) levels in liver tissue and Süperoxide Dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx) and arginase enzyme activities were examined. Serum ALT, AST and ALP levels increased in the DXR group when compared with the control, and this increase was partially corrected with CMN. Liver MDA and NO. levels increased in the DXR administered groups while antioxidant enzyme activities and GSH levels decreased. Increased MDA and NO. levels were decreased by CMN administration. However, decreased antioxidant enzyme activities and GSH levels were increased. Histologically, the liver tissues of control and CMN groups were in normal histological appearance. Severe necrotic changes and hydropic degeneration were observed in hepatocytes in the DXR+CMN 100 group of rats treated with DXR alone. In these groups, mononuclear cell infiltrations were also occasionally observed in the periportal and perivascular areas. Noxious, hydropic degeneration and mononuclear cell infiltrations were decreased in the livers of the rats in the group treated with DXR and CMN 200. As a result, curcumin is effective in reducing DXR damages.