Synergic effect of curcumin and zinc-enriched yeast on chronic alcoholic liver injury in mice

Objective To study the synergic effect of curcumin and zinc-enriched yeast on chronic alcohol-induced liver injury,and to provide scientific evidence for the prevention and treatment of alcoholic liver disease.Methods Balb/c mice were randomly divided into 4 groups:normal control,ethanol control,curcumin+lowdose zinc-enriched yeast,and curcumin+high dose zinc-enriched yeast group.The chronic alcoholic liver damage model was established with gradient dose of ethanol exposure for 6 weeks.Mice in curcumin+lowdose zinc-enriched yeast and curcumin+high dose zinc-enriched yeast group were administered to 75 mg/kg curcumin supplemented with lowdose zinc-enriched yeast(2.5 mg/kg) or high dose zinc-enriched yeast(10 mg/kg) per day.After 6 weeks,the enzyme activity of alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST) in serum and the level of total antioxidant capacity(T-AOC),malondialdehyde(MDA),glutathion(GSH),glutathione transferase(GST),and glutathione peroxidase(GSH-PX) in liver tissues were determined and histopathological changes of the liver were observed.Results The level of ALT and MDA in curcumin+lowdose zinc-enriched group and curcumin+high dose zinc-enriched yeast group were 34.11±26.04,41.74±32.75 U/L,and 0.99±0.19,0.97±0.25 nmol/mg·prot,respectively,and significantly lower than those in the ethanol control group(P <0.05).The level of GSH,GST and GSH-PX in curcumin+high dose zinc-enriched yeast group were 1.03±0.15,13.84±2.72,and 37.56±4.67 mg/g·prot,evidently higher than those in the ethanol control group(P < 0.05).Conclusion Curcumin and zinc-enriched yeast pretreatment have protective effects on chronic alcoholic liver injury in mice.The mechanism might be related to the alleviation of oxidative damage.