Antioxidative Effects of Curcumin on the Hepatotoxicity Induced by Ochratoxin A in Rats
Sara Damiano,
Consiglia Longobardi,
Emanuela Andretta,
Francesco Prisco,
Giuseppe Piegari,
Caterina Squillacioti,
Serena Montagnaro,
Francesco Pagnini,
Paola Badino,
Salvatore Florio,
Roberto Ciarcia
Affiliations
Sara Damiano
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Federico Delpino n.1, 80137 Naples, Italy
Consiglia Longobardi
Department of Mental, Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Largo Madonna delle Grazie n.1, 80138 Naples, Italy
Emanuela Andretta
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Federico Delpino n.1, 80137 Naples, Italy
Francesco Prisco
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Federico Delpino n.1, 80137 Naples, Italy
Giuseppe Piegari
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Federico Delpino n.1, 80137 Naples, Italy
Caterina Squillacioti
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Federico Delpino n.1, 80137 Naples, Italy
Serena Montagnaro
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Federico Delpino n.1, 80137 Naples, Italy
Francesco Pagnini
Unit of Radiology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy
Paola Badino
Department of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, L. go P. Braccini 2-5, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy
Salvatore Florio
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Federico Delpino n.1, 80137 Naples, Italy
Roberto Ciarcia
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Federico Delpino n.1, 80137 Naples, Italy
Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a powerful mycotoxin found in various foods and feedstuff, responsible for subchronic and chronic toxicity, such as nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, teratogenicity, and immunotoxicity to both humans and several animal species. The severity of the liver damage caused depends on both dose and duration of exposure. Several studies have suggested that oxidative stress might contribute to increasing the hepatotoxicity of OTA, and several antioxidants, including curcumin (CURC), have been tested to counteract the toxic hepatic action of OTA in various classes of animals. Therefore, the present study was designed to evaluate the protective effect of CURC, a bioactive compound with different therapeutic properties on hepatic injuries caused by OTA in rat animal models. CURC effects were examined in Sprague Dawley rats treated with CURC (100 mg/kg), alone or in combination with OTA (0.5 mg/kg), by gavage daily for 14 days. At the end of the experiment, rats treated with OTA showed alterations in biochemical parameters and oxidative stress in the liver. CURC dosing significantly attenuated oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation versus the OTA group. Furthermore, liver histological tests showed that CURC reduced the multifocal lymphoplasmacellular hepatitis, the periportal fibrosis, and the necrosis observed in the OTA group. This study provides evidence that CURC can preserve OTA-induced oxidative damage in the liver of rats.
