Background & Objective: Acetaminophen is a widely used analgesic and antipyretic drug which can produce hepatic injury in both humans and animals when given in high doses. Liver damage induced by actaminophen depends on cytochrome P-450 activities which appears as centrilobular necrosis. In this study, hepatoprotective effect of Curcuma longa (CL) is tested. The active constituent of CL is known as curcumin which has detoxifying and antioxidant activity.
Materials & Methods: 58 NMRI male mice were randomly divided into 7 groups. After an overnight denial of food, the first three groups received the following: group C normal saline, groug B 1000 mg/kg CL extract, group A 700 mg/kg oral acetaminophen. Treatment groups received acetaminophen and CL extract concurrently in various doses of 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, 800 mg/kg, 1000 mg/kg, respectively. After 24 hours blood samples were taken from jugular arteries for bioassay tests and the liver was removed and placed in 10% formalin for histopathologic assessments.
Results: Serum levels of hepatic transaminases (ALT, AST) in groups receiving CL declined remarkably compared to positive control group with a significant difference (p<0.05). Based on histopathologic survey hepatic necrosis decreased as the CL intake increased.
Conclusion: Based on the present research results, CL extract improves the condition in acetaminophen-induced hepatic toxicity and its administration is recommended.