Protective effects of curcumin on hepatic injury of rats with experimental hepatic fibrosis

Objective To investigate the protective effects of curcumin on the hepatic injury of the rats with experimental hepatic fibrosis,and to clarify its mechanism.Methods The hepatic fibrosis models of rats were established by bile duct ligation.21 rats were randomly divided into sham operation group(given saline),model group(given saline for model rats),curcumin group(given 400mg·kg-1 curcumin for model rats);there were7 rats in each group.The activities of aspartate aminotransferase(AST),alanine aminotransferase(ALT)and the level of total bilirubin(Tbil)in serum of the rats in various groups were detected after treated for 2 weeks;the pathomorphology of liver tissue was observed by hematoxylin and eosin(HE)staining;the deposition of collagen in the liver tissue was observed by Massion staining;the expression levels of transforming growth factor-beta1(Tgf-β1)andα-smooth muscle actin(α-Sma)proteins were detected by Western blotting method.Results Compared with sham operation group,the activities of AST,ALT and the levels of Tbil in serum of the rats in model group and curcumin group were increased(P0.05).Compared with model group,the activities of AST,ALT and the level of Tbil were increased in curcumin group were decreased(P0.05).The liver tissue of the rats in model group was obviously damaged with inflammatory cell infiltration,collagen deposition and bile duct proliferation;the pathological changes of liver tissue were significantly improved after curcumin treatment.The Western blotting results showed that the levels of Tgf-β1andα-Sma proteins in the liver tissue of the rats in model group were increased compared with sham opration group(P0.05);compared with model group,the levels of Tgf-β1andα-Sma proteins in the liver tissue of the rats in curcumin group were decreased(P0.05).Conclusion Curcumin shows the therapeutical effects on hepatic fibrosis,which is expected to be the drug to prevent and cure cholestatic hepatic fibrosis.