Protective effects of curcumin against oxidative stress parameters and DNA damage in the livers and kidneys of rats with biliary obstruction

Curcumin, a most active antioxidant compound, has been suggested to have potential beneficial effects against most metabolic and psychological disorders, including cholestasis. In the present study, the effects of curcumin against oxidative stress and DNA damage induced by bile duct ligation (BDL) in Wistar albino rats for 14 days were investigated. The rats were divided into three following groups: Sham group, the BDL group and the BDL + curcumin group. A daily dose of 50 mg/kg curcumin was given to the BDL + curcumin group intragastrically for 14 days. The biomarkers of hepatocellular damage were decreased in the BDL + curcumin group compared to the BDL group, indicating that curcumin recovered the liver functions. DNA damage as assessed by the alkaline comet assay was also found to be low in the BDL + curcumin group. Curcumin significantly reduced malondialdehyde and nitric oxide levels, and enchanced reduced glutathione levels and catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione S-transferase enzymes activities in the livers and kidneys of BDL group. Curcumin treatment in BDL group was found to decrease tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels in the livers of rats. These results suggest that curcumin might have protective effects on the cholestasis-induced injuries in the liver and kidney tissues of rats.

► Bile duct ligation (BDL) produces a well established experimental model of cholestasis in rats.
► The effects of curcumin against cholestasis in rats were studied.
► Curcumin ameliorated the liver functions in BDL rats.
► Curcumin treatment in the BDL group reduced the DNA damage.
► Curcumin reduced the oxidative stress parameters in the livers and kidneys of rats.