Hepatoprotective effects of fermented Curcuma longa L. on carbon tetrachloride-induced oxidative stress in rats

• We investigated the effects of fermented turmeric (FC) on CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity.
• FC lead to the prevention of hepatic tissue damage caused by CCl4.
• Pretreatment with FC prevented lipid peroxide formation in rat liver.
• Supplementation of FC ameliorated the antioxidative defense system.
• FC’s efficacy against CCl4 toxicity may be due to alleviating oxidative stress.

The hepatoprotective effect of fermented Curcuma longa L. (FC) was investigated in rats under CCl4-induced oxidative stress. FC at a dose of 30 or 300 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) was orally administered for 14 days followed by a single dose of CCl4 (1.25 mL/kg b.w. in 20% corn oil) on day 14. Pretreatment with FC drastically prevented the elevated activities of serum AST, ALT, LDH, and ALP caused by CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity. Histopathologically evident hepatic necrosis was significantly ameliorated by FC pretreatment. When compared to the CCl4-alone treated group, rats pretreated with FC displayed the reduced level of malondialdehyde. Furthermore, FC enhanced antioxidant capacities with higher activities of catalase, glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione peroxidase, and level of reduced glutathione. These results suggest that FC could be a candidate used for the prevention against various liver diseases induced by oxidative stress via elevating antioxidative potentials and decreasing lipid peroxidation.