Combined Effect of Curcumin and Vitamin E against CCl4 Induced Liver Injury in Rats

Abstract

The present study was aimed to investigate the combined effect of curcumin[CMN] and vitamin E against CCl4 induced oxidative stress and liver toxicity in rats. The toxicant CCl4 was used to induce liver toxicity at a dose of 1ml/kg as 1: 1 (v/v) mixture with liquid parafiin twice weekly for 8 weeks and sylamarinwas used as a standard drug to compare hepatoprotective effects of CMN and vitamin E. The antifibrotic effects of CMN and vitamin E were assessed directly by hepatic histology and indirectly by measuring levels of the aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lipid profile (total cholesterol and triglycerides) in serum. Further, we investigated lipid peroxidation (TBARS), enzymatic antioxidants (catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione reductase) and non-enzymatic antioxidant glutathione (GSH) were estimated in the liver samples. Oral administration of CMN(100mg/kg daily for 8 weeks) and in combination with vitamin E (40mg/kg thrice weekly for 8 weeks) showed significant hepatoprotection by decreasing elevated serum markers and lipid profile. In addition significantly decreased the hepatic lipid peroxidation as well as recovered the activities of antioxidant enzymes and GSH levels in the liver. Histopathological studies confirmed the biochemical observations. This study reveals CMN in combination with vitamin E possesses strong antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity than CMN alone.