Curcumin protects sodium nitrite-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats

In this study, the protective effect of curcumin on sodium nitrite (NaNO₂) induced hepatotoxicity was assessed in male Wistar rats. Wistar rats were administered orally daily with 20 mg/kg of curcumin for 28 days and NaNO₂ was administered as a single dose of 60 mg/kg on day 28. Lipid profile, liver function biomarkers and C-reactive protein were assessed in the serum; lipid peroxidation, non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidants were assessed in the liver. Alanine amino transferases (94.67 U/L), aspartate amino transferases (194.33 U/L), alkaline phosphatases, C-reactive proteins (19.56 ng/L) and lipid peroxidation (8.03 × 10^-6 μmol/mg protein) were significantly elevated (P < 0.05), while a significant decrease in lipid profiles (total cholesterol, HDL,LDL, and triglycerides): (0.61,0.37, 0.4 and 0.47 mg/dl respectively), reduced glutathione level (4.16 μmol/mg protein), and decreased catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities with severe histological alterations were observed in the livers of rats exposed to NaNO₂. Pre-treatment with curcumin significantly (P < 0.05) prevented these alterations by adjusting the lipid profile, liver function markers, and C-reactive proteins and abrogating the elevated markers of oxidative stress as supported by the liver histology. This suggests that dietary consumption of curcumin is beneficial against NaNO₂ induced oxidative stress of the liver via its antioxidant potential.