Hypercholesterolemia and hyperlipidemia has been ranked as one of the greatest risk factors contributing to the
prevalence and severity of coronary heart diseases. The therapeutic effect of curcumin (CUR) administration on
enzymatic antioxidant status, hepatic oxidative stress, cardiac marker enzymes and inflammation in high
cholesterol diet-induced hypercholesterolemia in rats were evaluated. Sixty male rats were divided into four equal
groups. Group Ι :( Control group) rats fed on normal diet. Group Π: Rats fed hypercholesterolemic diet (HCD) [4%
cholesterol (w/w) and 1% cholic acid]. Group III: rats fed HCD + curcumin (200 mg/kg b.wt/day, orally). Group IV:
rats fed normal diet + curcumin (200 mg/kg b.wt /day, orally). Blood and liver tissue samples were collected at 2, 4
and 6 weeks from the onset of treatment with curcumin. The obtained results showed marked increase in TNF-α,
IL-6 concentrations, LDH, CK-MB, ALT, AST and GGT activities in addition to NO and L-MDA in liver tissue of
hypercholesterolemic rats fed with high cholesterol diet. However, a significant decrease in liver tissues antioxidant
enzymes(CAT, SOD and GPx) activities were observed in hypercholesterolemia induced in rats. Treatment with
curcumin to hypercholesterolemic rats lowered serum TNF-α, IL-6, liver and cardiac marker enzymes, NO and LMDA and ameliorate antioxidant enzymatic status in liver tissue. These results suggest that, treatment with
curcumin has a powerful modulating effect on hypercholesterolemia induced inflammation and hepatic oxidative
stress with enhanced the antioxidant defense system in liver tissues. Also, curcumin may be effective in controlling
cholesterolemic status and has the potential in reducing cardiovascular complications due to hypercholesterolemia.
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