Evaluation of the hepatoprotective effect of curcumin alone or in combination with vitamin C in methotrexate-induced hepatotoxicity in mice

Abstract

Objective: To assess the hepatoprotective effect of curcumin and/or vitamin C in methotrexate-induced
hepatotoxicity.
Method: The experimental study was conducted at the Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, and the
Iraqi Centre for Cancer and Medical Genetic Research, Mustansiriya University, Baghdad, Iraq, from Nov 12, 2020, to
June 1, 2021, and comprised Swiss albino female mice aged 3-4 months and weighing 30-40g each. The mice were
divided into 5 groups and treated for 10 days. Group 1 received distilled water, group 2 received single-dose
methotrexate on the 10th day of the trial, group 3 was treated with curcumin plus methotrexate, group 4 was
treated with vitamin C plus methotrexate, and group 5 was treated with curcumin and vitamin C plus methotrexate.
Parameters measured were serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and
lactate dehydrogenase, as well as hepatic tissue malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase and glutathione. Data was
analysed using SPSS 16.
Results: There were 35 mice; 7(20%) in each of the 5 groups. Hepatoprotection produced by curcumin as reflected
by a decrease in lactate dehydrogenase and malondialdehyde levels was significant (p<0.05). Vitamin C also
produced a significant hepatoprotection, demonstrated by a decrease in alanine aminotransferase, alkaline
phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase and malondialdehyde levels. The combination of curcumin and vitamin C
reflected an additive effect demonstrated by a significant decrease in malondialdehyde (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Curcumin and/or vitamin C provided hepatoprotection against methotrexate-induced hepatotoxicity
through modulation of oxidative stress biomarkers.
Key Words: Phosphatase, Transaminase, Curcumin, Methotrexate, Oxidative Stress, Ascorbic, Glutathione, Liver,
Dismutase, Aminotransferases, Dehydrogenases, Malondialdehyde