Protective Effect of Curcumin Against Hepatic Toxicity Induced by Lithium Carbonate (Li₂ Co₃)

The current work was done on four groups of rats (10 for each) to detect the hepato-protective characters of curcumin on the toxicity induced by lithium carbonate. The oral administration of Li₂ Co₃ for one-month lead to noticeable decrease in the SOD, CAT and GSH while the increase in the GPx and some histological changes in the portal tissues including hydropic degeneration and thickening in the wall of the veins with numerous vacuolar degenerations were detected in most of the liver cells. Haemorrghic, edematous blood vessels were noticed in the portal tissues. Focal areas of lymphocytic infiltration were located around the congested blood vessels and spread between the liver hepatic cords. Noticeable significant elevation of total chromosomal structure aberrations (a centaromeric, dicentric, break, fragment, deletion, sticky, end to end and ring) and total chromosomal numerical aberrations (hypoploidy, hyperploid and polyploidy). While the pre-treatment with curcumin lead to improvement of the hepatic architecture and biochemical parameters. Also diminish of all chromosomal structure aberrations and all chromosomal numerical aberrations were noticed after treatment with curcumin. Curcumin can prevent the hazard effect of lithium carbonate on liver tissue.