Curcumin Attenuates on Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Acute Liver Injury in Mice via Modulation of the Nrf2/HO-1 and TGF-β1/Smad3 Pathway

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of curcumin against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced acute liver injury in a mouse model, and to explain the underlying mechanism. Curcumin at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg/day were administered orally once daily for seven days prior to CCl4 exposure. At 24 h, curcumin-attenuated CCl4 induced elevated serum transaminase activities and histopathological damage in the mouse’s liver. Curcumin pre-treatment at 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg significantly ameliorated CCl4-induced oxidative stress, characterized by decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) formations, and increased superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) activities and glutathione (GSH) content, followed by a decrease in caspase-9 and -3 activities. Curcumin pre-treatment significantly decreased CCl4-induced inflammation. Furthermore, curcumin pre-treatment significantly down-regulated the expression of TGF-β1 and Smad3 mRNAs (both p < 0.01), and up-regulated the expression of nuclear-factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and HO-1 mRNA (both p < 0.01) in the liver. Inhibition of HO-1 attenuated the protective effect of curcumin on CCl4-induced acute liver injury. Given these outcomes, curcumin could protect against CCl4-induced acute liver injury by inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammation, which may partly involve the activation of Nrf2/HO-1 and inhibition of TGF-β1/Smad3 pathways.

Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 Ameliorates Diabetes-Induced Liver Injury by Reducing Cellular Stress and Restoring Autophagy

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“…A previous report showed that ER stress induced the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) (Peng et al, 2018), thereby leading to oxidative stress (Hyung-Ryong et al, 2009). ER stress occurs when misfolded proteins accumulate in the ER lumen, and this is referred to as the unfolded protein response (UPR) (Hyung-Ryong et al, 2009).…”

Therapeutic effects of curcumin on sepsis and mechanisms of action: A systematic review of preclinical studies

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Protective Effect of Eckol against Acute Hepatic Injury Induced by Carbon Tetrachloride in Mice

“…have been considered to contribute to the pathogenesis and progression of this disorder [ 13 , 14 ]. It is well-known that carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 )-induced acute liver injury model shares a similar molecular mechanism with acute chemical liver injury in humans [ 15 ]. Especially, oxidative stress, inflammation response, and apoptosis have been recognized as the most important pathomechanisms during the progress of CCl 4 -induced acute liver injury [ 16 ].…”