Impact of Usage Curcuma Longa Extract on Experimental Canine Steroidal Hepatopathy: Clinical and Therapeutic Aspects

Herbal drug (Tumeric) has been reported to have a good effect on body gain and treatment of liver diseases. In addition, this drug acts against the degenerative process of lipid peroxidation which involves free radicals and polyunsaturated fatty acids leading to hepatic pathogenesis. The present study was performed to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of curcuma longa rhizome ethanolic extract on steroidal induced hepatopathy. Therefore 15 mongrel old dogs were enrolled in this study. Steroid hepatopathy was induced via dexamethasone injection for 14 days followed by administration of curcuma longa rhizome ethanolic extract for two weeks. Clinical, blood samples, ultrasound and cytology examinations were done at day 0, 7 and 14 of induction and day 7 and 14 post curcuma longa rhizome ethanolic extract administration. Haematological analysis revealed a significant decrease in Hb, RBCs in experimental hepatopathic dogs which began to increase at day 7 of treatment by curcuma longa extract, also hepatopathic dogs revealed significant increase in WBCS and after treatment by curcuma longa extract returned to nearly normal value after 7 days of treatment. Serum biochemical analysis revealed significant increase in ALT, AST and ALP in experimental hepatopathic dogs which began to decrease after treatment by curcuma longa ethanolic extract. Ultrasonography revealed increase in echogenicity of liver parenchyma in hepatopathic induced dogs and returned to nearly normal after treatment by curcuma longa ethanolic extract. From the obtained results we concluded that use of curcuma longa extract improve the general health status and weight of the dogs in addition to its great hepatoprotective properties. So it can be recommended as a potent product in protection and treatment of canine hepatopathy.