Iron overload (IOL) is one of the most common metal related toxicity. Under this circumstance, excessive iron deposition in liver will lead to further injury such as hepatocellular necrosis, inflammation, fibrosis, and even to carcinoma. In this study, the effect of a nature flavonoid, curcumin, on IOL-induced rats liver oxidative damage was investigated. Sixty male albino rats were randomly divided into three equal groups. Group I: control group, Group II: iron-overload group, received six doses (three doses per week) of ferric hydroxide poly maltose (100 mg/kg b.w) by intraperitoneal injections (IP), and Group III: iron overload+curcumin group, received six doses of 100 mg/kg b.w. ferric hydroxide poly maltose (IP), and curcumin (100 mg/kg b.w.) as one daily oral dose until the sacrificed day. Blood samples for serum separation and liver tissue specimens were collected three times, after three, four and five weeks from the onset of the experimental. Serum iron profile {iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), unsaturated iron binding capacity (UIBC), transferrin (Tf) and transferrin saturation% (TS%)}, ferritin, albumin, total protein, total cholesterol, and triacylglycerols levels and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities were determined. Moreover, iron, L-malondialdehyde (L-MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), nitric oxide (NO) and total nucleic acid (TNA) levels, and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in the liver were also determined. The obtained results revealed that, IOL resulted in significant increase in serum iron, TIBC, Tf, TS% and ferritin levels and AST and ALT activities, and also increased liver iron, L-MDA, and NO levels. Meanwhile, it decreased serum UIBC, albumin and total protein, and liver GSH, TNA levels, and GPx, CAT and SOD activities, compared those of the control group. Administration of curcumin to IOL rats significantly decreased serum iron, TIBC, Tf, TS%, ferritin levels, AST and ALT activities, and liver iron, L-MDA, and NO levels, with significant increases in serum UIBC, albumin, total protein, and total cholesterol levels and in liver GSH, CAT and SOD activities compared with the IOL group. The results of this study may demonstrate the antioxidant potential of curcumin against iron overload induced hepatic oxidative stress in rats. |
