Inhibitory effect of tetrahydrocurcumin on dimethylnitrosamine-induced liver fibrosis in rats

Monthana Weerawatanakorn; Shu-Chen Hsieh; Mei-Ling Tsai; Ching-Shu Lai; Li-Mei Wu; Vladimir Badmaev; Chi-Tang Ho; Min-Hsiung Pan

Journal of Functional Foods (Mar 2014)

Inhibitory effect of tetrahydrocurcumin on dimethylnitrosamine-induced liver fibrosis in rats

Monthana Weerawatanakorn,
Shu-Chen Hsieh,
Mei-Ling Tsai,
Ching-Shu Lai,
Li-Mei Wu,
Vladimir Badmaev,
Chi-Tang Ho,
Min-Hsiung Pan

Affiliations

Monthana Weerawatanakorn: Department of Agro-Industry, Faculty of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok 65000, Thailand
Shu-Chen Hsieh: Institute of Food Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
Mei-Ling Tsai: Department of Seafood Science, National Kaohsiung Marine University, Kaohsiung 811, Taiwan
Ching-Shu Lai: Institute of Food Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
Li-Mei Wu: Department of Seafood Science, National Kaohsiung Marine University, Kaohsiung 811, Taiwan
Vladimir Badmaev: American Medical Holdings Inc., 1440 Forest Hill Rd., NY, NY 10314, USA
Chi-Tang Ho: Department of Food Science, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
Min-Hsiung Pan: Institute of Food Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan; Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan; Corresponding author at: Institute of Food Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Section 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 10617, Taiwan. Tel./fax: +886 2 33664133.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 7
pp. 305 – 313

Abstract

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Chronic liver disease is characterized by an exacerbated accumulation of deposition of collagen, causing progressive fibrosis, which may lead to cirrhosis. We evaluated the inhibitory effect of tetrahydrocurcumin (THC), a major metabolite of curcumin, on liver fibrogenesis both in vitro, HSC-T6 cell, and in vivo, dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-induced liver fibrosis in rat. The liver inflammation in HSC-T6 cell was initiated by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), and fibrosis in Sprague–Dawley rats was induced by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of DMN (10 mg/kg) 3 days per week for four consecutive weeks. THC (10 mg/kg) was administered in rats by oral gavage daily. DMN caused hepatic injury as indicated by analysis of liver function, morphology, histochemistry, and fibrotic parameters. Once-daily dosing with THC alleviated liver damage as signified by histopathological examination of the α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and collagen I, accompanied by the reduction TGF-β1 and serum levels of transaminase (P < 0.05). These data revealed that the THC exerts hepatoprotective activity in experimental fibrosis, potentially by inhibiting the TGF-β1/Smad signaling.

Published in Journal of Functional Foods

ISSN: 1756-4646 (Print); 2214-9414 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Technology: Home economics: Nutrition. Foods and food supply
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-functional-foods

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