These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Curcumin ameliorates acute thioacetamide-induced hepatotoxicity.
    Author: Shapiro H, Ashkenazi M, Weizman N, Shahmurov M, Aeed H, Bruck R.
    Journal: J Gastroenterol Hepatol; 2006 Feb; 21(2):358-66. PubMed ID: 16509859.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND AND AIM: Increased production of reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide and activation of nuclear factor kappa B are implicated in the pathogenesis of various liver diseases, including fulminant hepatic failure. Curcumin is a naturally occurring anti-oxidant that reduces oxidative stress and inhibits nuclear factor kappa B and nitric oxide formation. The aim of the present study is to assess curcumin's therapeutic potential in acute thioacetamide hepatotoxicity, a rat model of fulminant hepatic failure. METHODS: Fulminant hepatic failure was induced by two intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of 300 mg/kg thioacetamide (TAA) at 24-h intervals. The experimental groups received a low-dose (200 mg/kg per day, i.p.) or a high-dose (400 mg/kg per day) of curcumin, initiated 48 h prior to the first TAA injection. A fourth group was administered neither TAA nor curcumin and served as a control. RESULTS: The survival rate was higher in both curcumin-treated groups compared to the TAA only treated group. Biochemical parameters of liver injury, blood ammonia and hepatic necroinflammation were lower in the low-dose curcumin group compared to TAA controls, and were further reduced in the high-dose group (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). Curcumin treatment also reduced the TAA-induced elevated hepatic levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), and inhibited the nuclear binding of nuclear factor kappa B (NFkappaB) and inducible nitric oxide (iNOS) protein expression. CONCLUSIONS: Curcumin improved survival and minimized oxidative stress, hepatocellular injury and hepatic necroinflammation, NFkappaB binding and iNOS expression in a rat model of FHF. These findings support the role of ROS, NFkappaB and iNOS in mediating liver insult due to TAA, and that of curcumin as a hepato-protectant.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]