Hepatoprotective activity of the ethanol extract of Curcuma heyneana rhizome on isoniazid and rifampin-induced liver injury rats

Introduction: Isoniazid (INH) and rifampin (RIF) are antituberculosis drugs that can induce injury in the liver. The purpose of this study was to investigate the antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of the ethanol extract of Curcuma heyneana rhizome on liver injury in animal model induced by INH and RIF. Methods: Antioxidant activity was measured by using ۲,۲-diphenyl-۱-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. All animals were divided into ۷ groups. Liver injury was induced by using combination of INH at the dose of ۵۰ mg/kg and RIF at the dose of ۱۰۰ mg/kg. These drugs were administrated for ۱۵ days along with extracts at doses of ۵, ۲۵, ۱۲۵ or ۶۲۵ mg/kg. Positive control group was given catechin. On the ۱۶th day, the rats were sacrificed, blood and livers were collected for assessment of biochemical parameters like alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) and histological studies, respectively. Results: The ethanol extract strongly scavenged DPPH with inhibition concentration ۵۰ (IC۵۰) of ۸۲.۴۸ ppm. Administration of ethanol extract of C. heyneana rhizome at the dose of ۲۵, ۱۲۵ or ۶۲۵ mg/kg significantly inhibited the elevation of AST and ALT (P<۰.۰۱). Moreover, the effects caused by administration of the extracts were similar to the effects caused by catechins. Various doses of the extract could effectively reduce tissue damage. Conclusion: This result suggests that ethanol extract of C. heyneana rhizome at the doses of ۲۵, ۱۲۵ and ۶۲۵ mg/kg might be effective as hepatoprotective agent.