Curcumin inhibits collagen synthesis and hepatic stellate cell activation in-vivo and in-vitro

We previously demonstrated that curcumin, a well-known antioxidant, inhibits collagen deposition in carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury in rats. The major effector cells responsible for collagen synthesis in the liver are activated hepatic stellate cells. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of curcumin on the collagen synthesis and activation of rat hepatic stellate cells in-vitro, and on hepatic stellate cell activation in-vivo. The effects of curcumin on the production of collagen and smooth muscle alpha-actin proteins and of alpha1(I) collagen mRNA were studied in-vivo and in-vitro. The effect of curcumin on DNA synthesis was also determined in-vitro. In-vivo, treatment with curcumin reduced collagen deposition and smooth muscle a-actin-positive areas and lowered mRNA levels of type I collagen in the liver. In-vitro, curcumin at a concentration of 5 mug mL(-1) reduced DNA synthesis, and downregulated smooth muscle a-actin and type I collagen expression, and alpha1(I) collagen mRNA expression. We concluded that curcumin inhibits collagen synthesis and hepatic stellate cell activation in-vivo and in-vitro, and thus may prove a valuable anti-fibrogenic agent.