The effect of curcumin on serum level of aspartate and alanine amoinotransferase and cardiac level of oxidative stress markers in diabetic rats

Diabetes mellitus in long term accompanies with enhanced oxidative stress and decreased activity of antioxidant defense system. Due to antidiabetic and antioxidant activity of effective constituent of turmeric, curcumin, the effect of this component on serum level of aspartate and alanine aminotransferase and cardiac level of some oxidative stress markers were determined. In this experimental study, rats were divided into 5 groups, i.e. control, curcumin-treated control (50 mg/kg), diabetic, and curcumin-treated diabetic groups (10 and 50 mg/kg). Curcumin was administered 7 days after streptozotocin injection for 5 weeks. Serum level of aspartate and alanine aminotransferase and heart tissue level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitrite and activity of Superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured. Diabetic rats showed a significant increase in serum level of aspartate and alanine aminotransferase (p<0.01-0.05), while high-dose curcumin significantly reduced serum level of these enzymes (p<0.05). In addition, diabetes was followed by increased level of MDA and nitrite in heart tissue (p<0.05-0.01) and non-significant decrease of SOD activity, whlie high-dose curcumin treatment significantly reduced MDA and nitrite level (p<0.05) and did not significantly change activity of SOD. ‍ Chronic treatment with curcumin could improve serum level of alanine and aspartate aminotransferase and some oxidative stress markers in cardiac tissue of diabetic rats.