Abstract
BackgroundCurcumin has been demonstrated to exert anti-oxidant, anti-fibrotic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer activities. This study was conducted to observe the effect and inner mechanism of curcumin in rats with radiation-induced liver damage (RILD).MethodsThirty SD rats were classified into Control, Radiation group and Curcumin (Cur) + Radiation group (n = 10 in each group). The changes in body weight of the rats were observed on the 3rd, 7th and 14th days after the treatment with curcumin. On the 14th day post treatment, the heart blood of the rats was drawn for measurement of liver function indices including total protein (TP), alanine aminotransfetase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) as well as aspartate aminotransfetase (AST). Subsequently, the rats were euthanized and liver tissues were taken to observe liver morphological changes using hematoxylin-eosin (HE), and to analyze apoptosis condition using transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) assays. Meanwhile, the oxidative stress level in liver tissue homogenate was determined by biochemical analysis. The expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway-associated and apoptosis-associated proteins was detected using Western blot analysis, and the expression levels of inflammatory factors were measured by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).ResultsThe reduced body weight was observed in rats of the Radiation group compared to the Control and Cur + Radiation groups on day 14. In the Radiation group, hepatic cell edema and inflammatory cell infiltration could be visible under the light microscope, and the hepatocytes presented with vacuolar degeneration. In the Cur + Radiation group, the hepatocytes swelled under the microscope, but the pathological changes were alleviated in comparison with the Radiation group. RILD rats with curcumin treatment presented with decreased ALT, AST, ALP, LDH, and maleicdialdehyde (MDA) levels, and elevated TP, superoxide dismutase (SOD), caspase activated DNase (CAD) and glutathione (GSH) levels. Apoptosis and inflammation in rats with RILD were up-regulated, and the NF-κB pathway was activated, but they were reversed after continuously intragastric administration of curcumin for 14 days.ConclusionOur study highlights that curcumin treatment reduces the liver damage caused by radiation through the inhibition of the NF-κB pathway.
Highlights
Curcumin has been demonstrated to exert anti-oxidant, anti-fibrotic, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities
Effect of curcumin on body weight and histopathology in Radiation-induced liver damage (RILD) rats It was suggested that the rats in the Control group were flexible in their activities and responses, and their water intake was normal
In the Radiation group, hepatic cell edema and inflammation could be visible under the light microscope, and hepatocytes infiltrated and presented with vacuolar degeneration
Summary
Curcumin has been demonstrated to exert anti-oxidant, anti-fibrotic, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities. This study was conducted to observe the effect and inner mechanism of curcumin in rats with radiation-induced liver damage (RILD). In both human and animals, radiotherapy plays a role in controlling tumors, while its injuries to the liver, bone marrow and other tissues restrict the radiation dose to suppress tumors [1]. Radiation-induced liver damage (RILD) is histologically featured with venous obstruction, distortion of the lobular architecture, a loss of parenchymal hepatocytes sinusoidal congestions, as well as some clinical symptoms such as ascites, fatigue, and elevated liver enzymes [4]. Natural products intake that is abundant in anti-oxidant phytochemicals is becoming a hot issue, and the products can be considered to be radioprotective in preventing ionizing radiation injury [5]
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