This study was conducted to investigate potentially protective and curative effects of Curcuma longa root (turmeric) powder on CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Turmeric was administered before (preventive effect) or after (curative effect) treatment with CCl4. Total phenolic and flavonoid levels were 26.35 mg GAE/g and 12.35 mg CE/g, respectively. Using HPLC analysis, turmeric powder was rich in curcumin (62.97%), demethoxycurcumin (20.86%) and bisdemethoxycurcumin (16.17%). Curcuma longa powder showed important in vitro antioxidant activities. Results showed that the activities of aspartate aminotransaminase and alanine aminotransaminase, and the levels of bilirubin and serum lipids were increased in CCl4-treated animals. However, total protein and albumin levels and antioxidant enzyme activities were decreased. Turmeric administration, before or after CCl4 treatment, significantly decreased the activities of marker enzymes and lipid levels in serum. Moreover, total protein and albumin contents were restored to nearly normal levels after turmeric administration accompanied with increase of antioxidant enzymes activities.
Keywords: Curcuma longa root; Hepatic enzymes; Liver fibrosis; Oxidative stress.