Turmeric Extracts as a Protective Natural Compound Against Hepatotoxicity Induced by Lead Nitrate in Male Albino Rat Model

Abstract

: Excessive exposure to lead may damage the liver by increasing oxidative stress, leading to many serious diseases. Dietary antioxidants may protect the liver from damage. Therefore, the effect of ethanolic and aqueous turmeric extracts against lead-induced liver damage was evaluated by esti-mating liver function and antioxidant/oxidative stress biomarkers. Forty rats were divided into group (A) served as control, group (B) treated with 93 mg/kg b.wt. lead nitrate, group (C) and group (D) treated as group B in addition to 400 mg/kg b.wt. of turmeric aqueous and ethanolic extracts, respec-tively. Group B showed a significant increase in the activities of alanine transaminase by 10 folds, aspartate transaminase by 9 folds, alkaline phosphatase by 3 folds and the level of malondialdehyde by 10 folds, while showed a significant decrease in albumin by 60%, total protein by 54.5%, and superoxide dismutase by 80.5%, catalase by 75% and glutathione by 71.6% in comparison with control group. On the