The protective effects of Curcuma longa extract on oxidative stress markers in the liver induced by Adriamycin in rat

Introduction: The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of Curcuma longa (C. longa) extract on Adriamycin-induced hepatotoxicity in rat. Methods: Animals were divided in six groups: Control (CO), Adriamycin (ADR), Adriamycin with Vitamin C (ADR+VitC), Vitamin C (Vit C), C. longa with Adriamycin (CL+ADR) and without Adriamycin (CL-ADR). Hepatotoxicity was induced by Adriamycin 5mg/kg and rats were treated with C. longa 1000 mg/kg and Vitamin C 100 mg/kg , per day, orally for 4 weeks. Results: In the liver tissue of ADR group, Malonyldialdehyde (MDA) level was increased significantly compared to CO group, (p < 0.05). MDA level in the treatment groups, Vit C, CL+ADR and CL-ADR were increased significantly compared to ADR group (p < 0.05, for all three groups), and compared to ADR+VitC group (p < 0.01). Thiol level in ADR, ADR+VitC and CL+ADR groups were decreased compared to CO group (p < 0.001), and also thiol level in CL-ADR and Vit C were increased significantly compared to ADR group (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001 respectively). The activity of catalase in liver tissue in ADR group was lower compared to CO group (p < 0.01), though was increased in CL-ADR, ADR+VitC and Vit C groups in comparison with ADR group (p<0.05, p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: The results showed that chronic administration of C. longa hydroalcoholic extract in Adriamycin-induced hepatotoxic rats could decrease the oxidative stress injuries in the liver tissue. D ow nl oa de d fr om w w w .p hy ph a. ir at 2 1: 16 IR S T o n T hu rs da y O ct ob er 1 3t h 20 16 32 | Physiol Pharmacol 20 (2016) 31-37 Khazdair et al. (Minotti et al., 2004). Studies showed that Adriamycin is rapidly cleared from the plasma of the rodents following intravenous administration, and accumulates in the liver, spleen, kidney, lung, and heart. Drug elimination occurs predominantly through the liver over a prolonged time (Carter et al., 1975). Curcuma longa (C. longa), belongs to the Zingiberaceae family, possesses numerous active compounds including, curcumin and zingiberin which are widely used in the Middle Eastern countries and other regions of Asia to prepare delicacies. C. longa is also used as a food preservative (Krishnaswamy, 2006), a food colorant and as a dye (Chainani-Wu, 2003). It also has a long history of usage in herbal remedies particularly in China, India and Indonesia (Tayyem et al., 2006). C. longa has antioxidant (Mohebbati et al., 2016), anti-inflammatory, anti-parasitic, antispasmodic, as well as cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and hepatoprotective properties (Adaramoye et al., 2010). It also inhibits carcinogenesis (Araujo and Leon, 2001). Curcumin, the main effective component of C. longa, is a powerful antioxidant agent. C. longa is used as an anti-carcinogenic agent, delays premature aging and possesses liver protection. In addition C. longa inhibits the growth of various types of cancer cells and decreases liver injury in experimental models of animals (Ramsewak et al., 2000; Akram et al., 2010). The present study was designed to study the effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Curcuma longa on Adriamycin-induced hepatotoxicity. Materials and methods Plant material and preparation of the extract Curcuma longa rhizomes was purchased from a local herbal shop in Mashhad, Khorasan province, Iran and identified by botanists in the herbarium of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. Curcuma longa rhizomes,100 grams, was grounded, weighed, and homogenized in 70% ethanol at a ratio of 1:10 of plant to ethanol and left to be soaked for 3 days at 37°C with occasional shaking and stirring. The mixture was then filtered and the resulting liquid was concentrated under reduced pressure at 45°C in an EYELA rotary evaporator (7%, w/w). The concentrated extract was then kept in the incubator at 45°C for 3 days to evaporate the ethanol residue yielding the crude extract (Salama et al., 2013). Extract was then dissolved in 96% ethanol (0.5%, w/w) before being orally administrated to animals (Mohebbati et al., 2016).