Hepatoprotective activity of the ethanol extract of Curcuma heyneana rhizome on isoniazid and rifampin-induced liver injury rats

Introduction: Isoniazid (INH) and rifampin (RIF) are antituberculosis drugs that can induce injury in the liver. The purpose of this study was to investigate the antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of the ethanol extract of Curcuma heyneana rhizome on liver injury in animal model induced by INH and RIF. Methods: Antioxidant activity was measured by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. All animals were divided into 7 groups. Liver injury was induced by using combination of INH at the dose of 50 mg/kg and RIF at the dose of 100 mg/kg. These drugs were administrated for 15 days along with extracts at doses of 5, 25, 125 or 625 mg/kg. Positive control group was given catechin. On the 16th day, the rats were sacrificed, blood and livers were collected for assessment of biochemical parameters like alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) and histological studies, respectively. Results: The ethanol extract strongly scavenged DPPH with inhibition concentration 50 (IC50) of 82.48 ppm. Administration of ethanol extract of C. heyneana rhizome at the dose of 25, 125 or 625 mg/kg significantly inhibited the elevation of AST and ALT (P<0.01). Moreover, the effects caused by administration of the extracts were similar to the effects caused by catechins. Various doses of the extract could effectively reduce tissue damage. Conclusion: This result suggests that ethanol extract of C. heyneana rhizome at the doses of 25, 125 and 625 mg/kg might be effective as hepatoprotective agent.