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.