ABSTRACT
The options available for the treatment of liver diseases like cirrhosis, fatty liver and hepatitis are inadequate in modern medicine. Few conventional drugs which are used to treat hepatic diseases have serious adverse effects; they may even lead to hepatic damage on prolonged use. Alternative drugs, in the form of herbal medicines should be provided, instead of currently used drugs of doubtful efficacy and safety. Curcumin, a biologically active compound from Curcuma longa acts as a natural antioxidant and potent chemopreventive agent. The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity of aqueous extract of Curcuma longa in ethanol- induced hepatotoxicity in albino Wistar rats.
Thirty adult Wistar rats weighing 160-220 grams were used. The animals were randomly divided into six groups of five (5) each. The groups were labeled A, B, C, D, E and F. Group A, animals served as the control and received feed and water only. Group B orally received ethanol (2ml/kg BW.), Group C received ethanol [dosage] and Curcuma longa extract (500mg/kg BW) concurrently, and Group D received extract (500mg/kg BW) one hour prior to ethanol administration. Group E were given 2ml/kg of ethanol one hour prior to the extract (500mg/kg BW). Group F received silymarin (100mg/kg BW) and 2ml/kg ethanol. The administration of the extract and ethanol was daily for 28 days. Serum biomarkers and oxidative stress parameters were estimated. . Histopathological study was also conducted to measure the action of Curcuma longa on parameters such as hepatic fatty degeneration and centrizonal necrosis of respective groups.
Oral administration of ethanol for 28 days resulted in a significant (p> 0.05) increase in aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), significant (p< 0.05) increase of total cholesterol, glutathione perioxidase and increase in total bilirubin in liver. Treatment with Curcuma longa at 500 mg/kg BW significantly (P< 0.05) decreased the elevated ALP, AST, ALT, total cholesterol levels and increase in GSH levels as compared to ethanol treated group. Ethanol also caused hepatic fatty degeneration along with infiltration of inflammatory cells and decrease in body weight in ethanol treated rats. Conclusively, this study showed that administration of aqueous extract of Curcuma longa offered significant protection from these damaging effects of ethanol. Thus aqueous extract of Curcuma longa has significant protective and ameliorative activity against ethanol- induced liver damage in rats.
