The effect of curcumin on liver fibrosis in the rat model of microsurgical cholestasis

Abstract

We aimed to determine the effects of curcumin on liver fibrosis and to clarify the role of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in a model of microsurgical cholestasis in the early stage of extrahepatic biliary atresia. Twelve-week-old Wistar rats were divided into four groups (n = 8): sham-operated rats (received olive oil after laparotomy); a curcumin group (received curcumin, 200 mg kg⁻¹ per day, after laparotomy); a biliary duct ligated group (BDL, received olive oil after operation); and a biliary duct ligated/curcumin group (BDL curc, received curcumin, 200 mg kg⁻¹ per day, after operation). After 3 weeks of treatment, curcumin did not modify blood plasma markers as well as the expressions of iNOS and NF-κB (p65) in the livers of the sham group. Interestingly, there was a significant increase in the extent of both liver and kidney fibrosis. On the other hand, despite a decrease in the expression of iNOS and NF-κB (p65), treatment with curcumin did not affect fibrosis enlargement due to bile duct ligation in the liver. In the BDL group, treatment with curcumin decreased the level of blood plasma markers investigated. In conclusion, treatment with curcumin was able to improve the functional properties of hepatocytes and to inhibit the upregulations of both NF-κB and iNOS in the BDL group; however, no beneficial effect was observed on the liver fibrosis developed in this model of cholestasis. Thus, in the studied model of microsurgical cholestasis, other factors different from NF-κB and iNOS are responsible for fibrotic processes in the liver.