The present study aimed to investigate whether curcumin in nanoparticle form may provide hepatoprotection in an ovarian cancer model in rats treated with cisplatin. Twenty-five female Wistar rats were divided into five 4-week treatment groups: (1) healthy rat group and four groups of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced ovarian cancer model rats receiving (2) vehicle only, (3) cisplatin 4 mg/kg BW/week, (4) cisplatin 4 mg/kg BW/week + curcumin 100 mg/kg BW/day, and (5) cisplatin 4 mg/kg BW/week + nanocurcumin (NC) 100 mg/kg BW/day. At the end of the treatment, a histopathological evaluation was carried out on the liver samples, in addition to oxidative stress, apoptosis, inflammatory, and fibrosis markers analyses. The group treated with cisplatin + NC had lower aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase levels and lowered malondialdehyde and higher glutathione levels than those treated with cisplatin only. In addition, the nuclear factor-erythroid factor 2-related factor 2/Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 pathway genes were upregulated in the group treated with cisplatin + NC. We also demonstrated that NC effectively suppressed the gene expression of inflammatory marker tumor necrosis factor-α, as well as fibrosis marker transforming growth factor-β1. Furthermore, NC treatment reduced the fibrotic area in the hepatic tissues, as shown by Masson’s trichrome staining. In conclusion, the hepatoprotective effects of NC are mediated through the modulation of antioxidative and anti-inflammatory pathways.
Key words: cisplatin, curcumin, hepatotoxicity, nanoparticles, oxidative stress, turmeric.
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