Effect of Curcumin on Serum Lipid and Expression of Peroxisome Proliferators-activated Receptor γ in the Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Rabbits

Objective: To observe the effects of curcumin on serum lipids and the expression of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor γ(PPAR-γ)in the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) rabbits.Methods: Thirty-four rabbits established non-alcoholic fatty liver disease model were randomly divided into 2 experimental groups: control group(17 animals) and treatment group(17 animals).Both groups were fed standard diet for 1 month.Additionally,the treatment group received oral curcumin at dose of 200 mg· kg-1·d-1 and the control group received an oral curcumin-free sodium chloride solution daily during the experiment.Blood samples were collected from before and after experiment.Serum was separated and used for the assessment of triglyceride(TG),total cholesterol(TC),LDL-C,HDL-C,fasting blood glucose(FBG),fasting insulin(FNS),and HOMA-IR index was calculated.The expression of PPARγ protein was measured by immunohistochemistry,and pathological alterations in the liver were examined.Results: Compared with the control group,the treatment group had significantly decreased serum TG,TC and LDL-C(P0.01),and increased HDL-C(P0.05).Curcumin also decreased HOMA-IR(P0.05) and increased the expression of PPARγ protein(P0.05).The fatty degeneration of the liver was significantly improved.Conclusion: Curcumin can degrade lipid synthesis and accumulation in blood serum and the liver of NAFLD rabbits.Therefore,curcumin can prevent and cure NAFLD.