Curcuma longa Linn. extract and curcumin protect CYP 2E1 enzymatic activity against mercuric chloride-induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress: A protective approach

Abstract

The present investigation has been conducted to evaluate the therapeutic potential of Curcuma longa (200mgkg^-1, po) and curcumin (80mgkg^-1, po) for their hepatoprotective efficacy against mercuric chloride (HgCl₂: 12μmolkg^-1, ip; once only) hepatotoxicity. The HgCl₂ administration altered various biochemical parameters, including transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, bilirubin, gamma-glutamyl transferase, triglycerides and cholesterol contents with a concomitant decline in protein and albumin concentration in serum which were restored towards control by therapy of Curcuma longa or curcumin. On the other hand, both treatments showed a protective effect on drug metabolizing enzymes viz. aniline hydroxylase (AH) and amidopyrine-N-demethylase (AND), hexobarbitone induced sleep time and BSP retention. Choleretic, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazil (DPPH)-free radical scavenging activities and histological studies also supported the biochemical findings. The present study concludes that Curcuma longa extract or curcumin has the ability to alleviate the hepatotoxic effects caused by HgCl₂ in rats.

Keywords: Curcuma longa; Curcumin; Hepatoprotection; Histopathology; Mercury toxicity; Oxidative stress.