Ameliorative effect of curcumin against tamoxifen in-duced hepatotoxicity in female albino rats

Abstract

The objective of the present work was to investigate the ameliorative effect of curcumin (Cur) against tamoxifen (TAM), a nonsteriodal antiestrogenic drug, induced hepatotoxicity in adult female albino rats. Forty eight female albino rats were divided into four groups of equal size. groups: group (I) animals of this group were served as control, group (II) rats were orally given Cur at a dose level of 150 mg/kg body weight daily for nine weeks, group (III) rats were orally given TAM at a dose level of 20 mg/kg body weight daily for nine weeks and group (IV) rats were given TAM followed by Cur at the same previous doses daily for nine weeks. For histological and immunohistochemical studies, livers were immediately removed after sacrification and sera were collected to detect the biochemical markers. Liver sections of rats treated with TAM showed loss of the normal architecture, cytoplasmic vacuolation, leukocytic infiltration and bile duct proliferation as well as increase in the expression of both alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and Ki-67. The activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) were elevated, while the activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the level of glutathione (GSH) were decreased in sera of rats of TAM group. On the other hand, liver sections of rats treated with TAM followed by Cur showed improvement in the histological, immunohistochemical and the biochemical markers. In conclusion, Cur revealed ameliorative effect against TAM toxicity in rat liver due to its antioxidant activities.