The synergistic hepatoprotective effect of curcumin and ginger against carbon tetrachloride induced- liver fibrosis in rats

The present study aimed to assess the hepatocellular protective activity of the co- administration of curcumin fortified by ginger against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis in rats. Five groups were included: control, CCl4, CCl4 treated with curcumin, CCl4 treated with ginger and CCl4 treated with curcumin and ginger. Liver fibrosis was evidenced by significant increase in liver hydroxyproline, the inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and lipid peroxidation, increased activities of serum aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Liver enzymes, oxidative status and histological examinations revealed that co-administration of curcumin and ginger significantly arrested progression of hepatic fibrosis induced by CCl4. Elevated activities of serum (AST), (ALT) and (ALP) by CCl4 intoxication were synergistically reduced, while the levels of total protein and albumin were normalized. In addition, the altered levels of malondialdhyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and hydroxyproline in liver tissues of CCl4 hepatotoxied rats were normalized by the oral co-administration of curcumin and ginger. Also, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) level and catalase (CAT) activity elevated by CCl4 intoxication, were significantly reduced (p<0.05) in liver tissues mainly in the combined treated group. Histological examinations showed that the combined administration of curcumin and ginger returned collagen fiber distribution to almost normal pattern. In conclusion, combined oral administration of both curcumin and ginger are potentially effective in the protection of hepatic fibrosis on the experimental level.