Curcumin and the Liver
Curcumin may prevent alcohol-related liver disease
19-Mar-2003 -
A team from the US, Finland and Hong Kong have found that curcumin, found in the
Indian spice turmeric, prevents activation of a genetic factor leading to liver
inflammation and necrosis.
Last week we reported on a study showing how curcumin can prevent the blood
cancer multiple myeloma, by de-activating the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kappaB)
which seems to be linked to production of cancerous cells.
NF-kB is also involved in a number of tissues that are sensitive to alcohol, and as
scientists have already shown that curcumin can suppress tumour blood vessel
growth and the activation of NF-KB, this raised the possibility that the substance might
be useful in preventing alcoholic liver disease(ALD).
In a study on rats, the team found that curcumin prevented ALD, at least in part, by
inhibiting lipid peroxidation, activation of NF-KB, and expression of pro-inflammatory
mediators. Their findings appear in the February 2003 edition of the American Journal
of Physiology - Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology.
Four groups of rats were treated with the compound for four weeks. One group
received fish oil plus ethanol (FE); a second group received fish oil plus dextrose (FD).
The third and fourth groups received FE or FD supplemented with curcumin.
The researchers found that rats fed the FE diet for four weeks had fatty liver, necrosis,
and inflammation but treatment with curcumin prevented both alcohol-induced
necrosis and inflammation. The degree of fatty liver also decreased in curcumin-treated
rats. And there was no evidence of liver injury in these groups.
The FE diet led to increased NF-KB binding activity compared with the FD diet.
Interestingly, curcumin prevented the activation of NF-KB in rats fed the FE diet
consistent with its ability to inhibit lipid peroxidation and liver injury.
Also, various NF-KB responsive genes have been found to be overexpressed in
experimental ALD. The researchers found markedly elevated levels of these pro-
inflammatory mediators in the livers of rats fed FE compared to the FD diet. Remarkably,
treatment with curcumin resulted in a normalisation of levels of each of the these
proinflammatory mediators.
Although curcumin is known to inhibit the activation of NF-KB and suppress
inflammation, this is the first time it has been shown to prevent alcoholic liver disease,
according to researchers.
However they added that it is no yet certain whether curcumin can also be used to treat
established ALD. But because the compound can be given safely to humans - taken
orally, as in milk or food - the results of this study have potentially important therapeutic
implications for individuals at risk for ALD.
Leader of the study Dr Nanji is now focusing on whether such a compound will be
useful in diseases such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Steatohepatitis can lead to
liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Cancer: Liver Cancer Less Common in India: Liver cancer is the
4th most common cancer death in world.
80% of liver cancer in India due to hepatitis B or C. However, altho hepatitis B and C infection
rates moderately high in India, but only 1.6% cancer deaths due to liver cancer, i.e. abnormally
low and without explanation. Dhir, Mumbai, Ind J Gastroent 7/98;17:100; India is a relatively low
cancer country except oral cancers due to betel nut chewing. Ed: Low Liver cancer maybe due to
high intake curcumin. Low rates of small and large bowel cancers and large bowel adenomas
are rare. However, rectal cancer is not uncommon. Rates increase with emigration and urban
diets. Curcumin is thought to play a protective role. Mohandas, Indian J Gastroent 7/99;18:118
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| I Have to go . I promised my liver I wouldn't be late home |