Brief Article
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World J Gastroenterol. Nov 14, 2013; 19(42): 7440-7446
Published online Nov 14, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i42.7440
Curcumin protects against acetaminophen-induced apoptosis in hepatic injury
Gang Li, Jun-Bao Chen, Chao Wang, Zhi Xu, Hao Nie, Xiao-Yan Qin, Xiao-Mei Chen, Quan Gong
Gang Li, Jun-Bao Chen, Chao Wang, Zhi Xu, Hao Nie, Xiao-Yan Qin, Xiao-Mei Chen, Quan Gong, Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434023, Hubei Province, China
Author contributions: Li G and Chen JB performed the experiments, collected the data and wrote the manuscript; Wang C and Nie H designed the study and revised the manuscript; Xu Z, Qin XY and Chen XM performed the experiments and analyzed the data; Gong Q revised the manuscript.
Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 81271872; Health Department of Hubei Province, No. XF2012-5; and Jingzhou Bureau of Science and Technology
Correspondence to: Quan Gong, PhD, Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Yangtze University, No. 1, Nanhuan Road, Jingzhou 434023, Hubei Province, China. gongquan1998@163.com
Telephone: +86-716-8062733 Fax: +86-716-8062733
Received: June 5, 2013
Revised: August 26, 2013
Accepted: September 15, 2013
Published online: November 14, 2013
Abstract

AIM: To explore the effects of curcumin (CMN) on hepatic injury induced by acetaminophen (APAP) in vivo.

METHODS: Male mice were randomly divided into three groups: group I (control) mice received the equivalent volumes of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) intraperitoneally (ip); Group II [APAP + carboxymethylcellulose (CMC)] mice received 1% CMC (vehicle) 2 h before APAP injection; Group III (APAP + CMN) mice received curcumin (10 or 20 mg/kg, ip) 2 h before before or after APAP challenge. In Groups II and III, APAP was dissolved in pyrogen-free PBS and injected at a single dose of 300 mg/kg. CMN was dissolved in 1% CMC. Mice were sacrificed 16 h after the APAP injection to determine alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in serum and malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and hepatocyte apoptosis in liver tissues.

RESULTS: Both pre- and post-treatment with curcumin resulted in a significant decrease in serum ALT compared with APAP treatment group (10 mg/kg: 801.46 ± 661.34 U/L; 20 mg/kg: 99.68 ± 86.48 U/L vs 5406.80 ± 1785.75 U/L, P < 0.001, respectively). The incidence of liver necrosis was significantly lowered in CMN treated animals. MDA contents were significantly reduced in 20 mg/kg CMN pretreatment group, but increased in APAP treated group (10.96 ± 0.87 nmol/mg protein vs 16.03 ± 2.58 nmol/mg protein, P < 0.05). The decrease of SOD activity in APAP treatment group and the increase of SOD in 20 mg/kg CMN pretreatment group were also detected (24.54 ± 4.95 U/mg protein vs 50.21 ± 1.93 U/mg protein, P < 0.05). Furthermore, CMN treatment efficiently protected against APAP-induced apoptosis via increasing Bcl-2/Bax ratio.

CONCLUSION: CMN has significant therapeutic potential in both APAP-induced hepatotoxicity and other types of liver diseases.

Keywords: Acetaminophen, Acute hepatic injury, Apoptosis, Free radicals, Curcumin

Core tip: Acetaminophen (APAP) and curcumin (CMN) were administrated intraperitoneally. The aim of the study was to explore whether CMN has effect on APAP-induced hepatic toxicity in vivo. The findings revealed that CMN protects against APAP-induced lipid peroxidation, oxidative stress and hepatocyte apoptosis.