Curcumin alleviates ethanol-induced hepatocytes oxidative damage involving heme oxygenase-1 induction

Ethnopharmacological relevance. Curcumin is the main bioactive constituent derived from the rhizome of turmeric (Curcuma longa Linn), which has been used traditionally as hepatoprotective agents in ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. Aim of the study The present study was carried out to demonstrate the potential protective effect of curcumin pretreatment against ethanol-induced hepatocytes oxidative damage, with emphasis on heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) Induction Materials and methods. Rat primary hepatocytes were isolated and treated with ethanol (100 mM) and diverse closes of curcumin (0-50 mu M), which was pretreated at various time points (0-5 h) before ethanol administration Hepatic enzyme releases in the culture medium and redox status including HO-1 enzyme activity were detected Results. Ethanol exposure resulted in a sustained malondialdehyde (MDA) elevation, glutathione (GSH) depletion and evident release of cellular lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), which was significantly ameliorated by curcumin pretreatment In addition, dose- and time-dependent induction of HO-1 was involved in such hepatoprotective effects by curcumin Conclusions. Curcumin exerts hepatoprotective properties against ethanol involving HO-1 induction, which provide new insights into the pharmacological targets of curcumin in the prevention of alcoholic liver disease. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd All rights reserved