The use of curcumin in obstructive jaundice

Introduction: The goal of this study is to evaluate the effects of curcumin on hepatic oxidative stress. Material and methods: Thirty rats were divided into 3 groups of ten each. Cholestasis was achieved by double ligature of the common bile duct. Group I, sham-operated, group II, our control group, ligation and division of the common bile duct (BDL), group III, curcumin-treated and BDL ligated group. In group III, rats were administered curcumin at a dosage of 20 mg/kg once a day by gastrogavage, starting from 15 days pre-BDL to 7 days post-BDL, and to the control group (group II) an equal volume of corn oil was administered instead. Hepatic oxidative stress markers were evaluated by changes in the amount of lipid peroxides, measured as malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), nitric oxide (NO), myeloperoxidase (MPO), catalase (CAT) and reduced glutathione (GSH) in the liver tissue. Liver samples were examined under light microscope. Results: All parameters between the sham-operated group (group I) and the other two groups (group II and III) were statistically different. The liver-tissue levels of MDA, SOD, NO, MPO, CAT and GSH were significantly different between the curcumin and BDL groups (group II) (p < 0.05). In group III, significant reductions in the size of enlarged hepatocytes and the oedema were demonstrated. In light microscopic examination, histopathologically cirrhotic level of the liver tissue was statistically lower than the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The results of the current study revealed that curcumin improved hepatic functions and reduced hepatic injury by minimizing oxidative stress, decreasing the liver lipid peroxidation, reducing glutathione and as a result recovering the scavenger enzyme activity.