Ethanol extract of Curcuma longa rhizome mitigates potassium bromate-induced liver changes in the Wistar rat: Histological, histochemical and immunohistochemical assessments.

The effects of Curcuma longa rhizome on hepatic cells, glycogen, connective tissue fibres and filamentous cytoskeleton were evaluated following KBrO-induced liver injury in Wistar rats. Thirty-five male rats were randomly divided into seven groups (n=5). Group 1 were normal saline treated rats. Hepatic injury was induced in groups 2 to 7 by oral administration of 100mg/kg KBrO for 2 weeks. Following induction, rats in group 2 were sacrificed while groups 3, 4, 5 were given oral dose of EECLOR at 100, 200, 400mg/kg respectively. Group 6 rats were treated with silymarine while group 7 rats were left untreated. The rats were sacrificed and the liver sections were stained with H&E, Masson trichrome, Gordon and Sweets, PAS, Feulgen reaction, anti-vimentin antibody for demonstration of general histoarchitecture, elastic fibre, collagen fibre; glycogen, nuclear DNA and filamentous cytoskeleton respectively. Groups 2, 3, 7 developed intranuclear vacuolation, plasma coagulation, plamolysis, karyopyknosis, karyorrhexis and karyolysis, hyperchromatism, DNA fading and pleomorphism. Immunohistochemical study revealed near negative immunoreaction for vimentin. These pathological changes were ameliorated in EECLOR-treated groups in a manner comparable to silymarine-treated group. The study concluded that ameliorative effects of EECLOR in KBrO-induced liver injury could be due to its vimentin stabilization property.