The effect of curcumin on liver fibrosis in the rat model of microsurgical cholestasis

Abstract

We aimed to determine the effects of curcumin on liver fibrosis and to clarify the role of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in a model of microsurgical cholestasis in the early stage of extrahepatic biliary atresia. Twelve-week-old Wistar rats were divided into four groups (n = 8): sham-operated rats (received olive oil after laparotomy); a curcumin group (received curcumin, 200 mg kg(-1) per day, after laparotomy); a biliary duct ligated group (BDL, received olive oil after operation); and a biliary duct ligated/curcumin group (BDL curc, received curcumin, 200 mg kg(-1) per day, after operation). After 3 weeks of treatment, curcumin did not modify blood plasma markers as well as the expressions of iNOS and NF-κB (p65) in the livers of the sham group. Interestingly, there was a significant increase in the extent of both liver and kidney fibrosis. On the other hand, despite a decrease in the expression of iNOS and NF-κB (p65), treatment with curcumin did not affect fibrosis enlargement due to bile duct ligation in the liver. In the BDL group, treatment with curcumin decreased the level of blood plasma markers investigated. In conclusion, treatment with curcumin was able to improve the functional properties of hepatocytes and to inhibit the upregulations of both NF-κB and iNOS in the BDL group; however, no beneficial effect was observed on the liver fibrosis developed in this model of cholestasis. Thus, in the studied model of microsurgical cholestasis, other factors different from NF-κB and iNOS are responsible for fibrotic processes in the liver.

Antifibrotic Activity and In Ovo Toxicity Study of Liver-Targeted Curcumin-Gold Nanoparticle

“…The co-encapsulation of curcumin and silymarin in nanoemulsion enhanced their activities, which was indicated by the reduction of collagen type IV expression in mouse and NIH/3T3 cell line at gene as well as protein levels [14]. In agreement with our results, other reports also described the potential use of curcumin as an antifibrotic agent, which have been shown in different animal models of liver fibrosis [15][16][17][18]. Nevertheless, the developed curcumin nanoemulsion has a relatively low distribution to the liver.…”

Protective Effects of Amarogentin against Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Liver Fibrosis in Mice

“…It has been reported that products from natural and medicinal plants have a high capacity for scavenging CCl 4 -induced free radicals [ 8 ]. Numerous purified compounds and formulae have been shown to exert anti-fibrotic properties [ 9 , 10 ] and have been used in China for thousands of years to treat liver disease [ 11 , 12 ].…”

Quercetin Mitigates Hepatic Insulin Resistance in Rats with Bile Duct Ligation Through Modulation of the STAT3/SOCS3/IRS1 Signaling Pathway

“…Recent findings propose that activated HSCs could contribute to the fibrogenic process through the secretion and stimulation of a wide range of pro-inflammatory cytokines (Flanagan et al, 2008). Activating the ERK1/ HIF-1α/NF-κB signaling pathway also enables the production pro-inflammatory cytokines (Barta et al, 2015;Colares et al, 2016). Our results demonstrated that quercetin obstructed the effect of leptin on the activation of HSCs by the interruption of leptin signaling and the ERK1/HIF-1α/ NF-κB signaling pathway.…”

“…Inflammation has a pivotal role in the start and progress of liver complications (Smith & Adams, 2011). The antifibrotic and anti-inflammatory impacts of quercetin could be demonstrated by the downregulation of the mRNA expression of IL-1β, collagen I,TNFα,and iNOS. Research has indicated that increased hepatic NF-κB activity has associations with increased amounts of mRNA level in TGF-β1, TNFα,, and iNOS in the liver of BDL rats (Barta et al, 2015;Muriel, 2009).…”