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.