Abstract Diabetes mellitus is associated with chronic hyperglycemia, impaired liver function, end organ damage among others. Therefore, curcumin may provide a better treatment for this disease. The present study is aimed at investigating the effect of curcumin on liver enzymes and liver proteins of alloxan-induced diabetic Wistar rats. Twenty rats weighing between 100-150g were used for the study. The animals were divided into five (5) groups of four each (n=4). Group I were non-diabeticand received distilled water, group II, III, IV and V were diabetic and received olive oil 1 ml/kg, glibenclamide 2 mg/kg, curcumin 50 mg/kg and curcumin 100mg/kg respectively. Alloxan (150mg/kg) was used to induce diabetes. Diabetes was confirmed 72 hours after induction by glucose oxidase principle. All administrations were done via oral gavage for duration of 21 days. On day 21, the animals were sacrificed and the blood samples were collected for biochemical assays. The result obtained from this study showed that there was a significant decrease (P<0.05) in the liver enzymes activity (ALT and ALP) when compared with the control group. Also, serum albumin level significantly increases at curcumin 50 mg/kg dose compared to the control group. The findings of this study suggest that curcumin has hepatoprotective effect and improve blood glucose level and may ameliorate diabetes-induced liver disorders.
Keywords curcumin, hyperglycemia, liver enzymes, liver proteins.