Validation of a Quantification Method for Curcumin Derivatives and Their Hepatoprotective Effects on Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Abstract

Curcumin (CM), demethoxycurcumin (DMC), and bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC) are major curcumin derivatives found in the rhizome of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), and have yielded impressive properties to halt various diseases. In the present study, we carried out a method validation for curcumin derivatives and analyzed the contents simultaneously using HPLC with UV detection. For validation, HPLC was used to estimate linearity, range, specificity, accuracy, precision, limit of detection (LOD), and limit of quantification (LOQ). Results showed a high linearity of the calibration curve, with a coefficient of correlation (R2) for CM, DMC, and BDMC of 0.9999, 0.9999, and 0.9997, respectively. The LOD values for CM, DMC, and BDMC were 1.16, 1.03, and 2.53 ng/μL and LOQ values were 3.50, 3.11, and 7.67 ng/μL, respectively. Moreover, to evaluate the ability of curcumin derivatives to reduce liver lipogenesis and compare curcumin derivatives’ therapeutic effects, a HepG2 cell model was established to analyze their hepatoprotective properties. Regarding the in vivo study, we investigated the effect of DMC, CM, and BDMC on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) caused by a methionine choline deficient (MCD)-diet in the C57BL/6J mice model. From the in vitro and in vivo results, curcumin derivatives alleviated MCD-diet-induced lipid accumulation as well as high triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) levels, and the protein and gene expression of the transcription factors related to liver adipogenesis were suppressed. Furthermore, in MCD-diet mice, curcumin derivatives suppressed the upregulation of toll-like receptors (TLRs) and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In conclusion, our findings indicated that all of the three curcuminoids exerted a hepatoprotective effect in the HepG2 cell model and the MCD-diet-induced NAFLD model, suggesting a potential for curcuminoids derived from turmeric as novel therapeutic agents for NAFLD.

Rapid metabolic fingerprinting with the aid of chemometric models to identify authenticity of natural medicines: Turmeric, Ocimum, and Withania somnifera study

“…2 ). These metabolites are considered to be good quality markers for turmeric samples, as these compounds have effective pharmacological activity [ 31 ]. HPLC data revealed that Lakadong turmeric has a high content of curcumin (>12.5%), demethoxycurcumin (>3.6%), and bisdemethoxycurcumin (1.3%) in comparison to the other three GI groups of samples.…”

Metabolomics reveals that Curcuma longa and demethoxycurcumin inhibit HCT116 human colon cancer cell growth

“…The root of C. longa contains approximately 2% curcumin [30], and much research has been done on the activity of curcumin. The root of C. longa also contains curcumin derivatives, among which demethoxycurcumin accounts for roughly one-third of the curcumin content [31], and the activity of demethoxycurcumin on cancer cells has rarely been studied.…”

The ethanolic extract of Curcuma longa grown in Korea exhibits anti-neuroinflammatory effects by activating of nuclear transcription factor erythroid-2-related factor 2/heme oxygenase-1 signaling pathway

“…As it is known, C. longa is composed of various compounds including diarylheptanoids (including curcuminoids), diarylpentanoids, monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, diterpenes, triterpenoids, alkaloid, and sterols, of which curcuminoids are the most abundant [ 46 ]. Therefore, in order to analyze the content of curcuminoids that are the most abundant and exhibit various physiological activities among the components contained in C. longa , we established a quantitative analysis method using the ethanolic extract of C. longa grown in Korea and verified the content of curcuminoids in previous study [ 10 ]. The ethanolic extract of C. longa is an optimal condition for analyzing the content of curcuminoids, and its physiological activities may be due to curcuminoids.…”

“…A voucher specimen (MPS00) was deposited at the Herbarium of the Department of Herbal Crop Research, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, Rural Development Administration, Eumseong, Republic of Korea. The preparation of ethanolic extract of C. longa was performed as previously reported study using the same plant sample [ 10 ].…”