Curcumin exerts hepatoprotection via overexpression of Paraoxonase-1 and its regulatory genes in rats undergone bile duct ligation.

Objectives: Curcumin is described as an antioxidant, hepato-protective and antifibrotic in liver fibrosis, although its mechanism is still not known. One of the models of the chronic liver disease stemming from oxidative stress and the generation of free radical has been considered to be bile duct ligation (BDL). Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) is a prominent antioxidant enzyme. Therefore, the objective of the present research is to assess the effects of curcumin on upregulation of PON1 in BDL rats.

Methods: As predicted, the rats have been divided into the four groups of Sham, Sham + Cur (curcumin), BDL and BDL + Cur. We evaluated the efficacy of curcumin (100 mg/kg/day) on protein and gene expression of PON1 and regulatory genes contributed to the gene expression PON1 such as Sp1, PKC, SREBP-2, AhR, JNK and regulation PON1 activity gene expression of Apo A1.

Results: Curcumin attenuated alterations in liver histology, hepatic enzymes and the mRNA expression of fibrotic markers (p<0.05). In addition, curcumin increased significantly mRNA, protein expression of PON1 and mRNA of the genes that are contributed to the expression of PON1 such as Sp1, PKC, SREBP-2, AhR, JNK and increased PON1 activity through upregulation of Apo A1 (p<0.05).

Conclusions: Cirrhosis progression may be inhibited by treatment with curcumin through the increased influence the expression and activity of PON1.