Curcumin protects against CCl4-induced primary and advanced liver fibrosis in C57/BL6J mice

Introduction: Liver fibrosis is the result of damage to hepatic tissue that may advance to cirrhosis and,consequently, hepatocellular carcinoma. Currently, there are no definitive treatments for reversing advanced liver fibrosis, and as a result, early detection and prevention are of critical importance. Curcumin is a widely recognized spice, categorized as a phytochemical with potential anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. In this study, the inhibitory effect of curcumin administration against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic fibrosis was investigated in vivo. Materials and methods: 48 C57/BL6J male mice were divided into 6 groups consisting of Control 4W, P/F C1, Curcumin I, Control 6W, Advanced/F, and Curcumin II. After treatment, rats were euthanized, and serum and liver tissues were collected. For histological analysis, serum ALT/AST, albumin, and hepatic histomorphology were analyzed accordingly. Additionally, expression levels of EIF6 , COL1A1 , ITGB8 , CEBPB , YY1 , LUM , and CCN2 were measured using real-time PCR. Results: Curcumin administration significantly attenuated CCl₄-induced elevations in serum AST and ALT levels, while restoring albumin and total protein concentrations. Expression of key pro-fibrotic genes was significantly upregulated in both early and advanced fibrosis models and effectively suppressed by curcumin treatment. Histological examinations demonstrated reduced inflammatory infiltration, hepatocyte degeneration, and collagen accumulation, with greater improvement in advanced-stage fibrosis. Conclusion: Curcumin displays protective effects against primary and advanced liver fibrosis, suggesting potential clinical application.