Therapeutic potential of a novel combination of Curcumin with Sulfamethoxazole against carbon tetrachloride-induced acute liver injury in Swiss albino mice

Background:In the current study, we have investigated the effect of each of curcumin (CUR) and sulfamethoxazole(SMX) either separate or mixed together (CUR + SMX) on biochemical, hematological and histological alternationsassociated with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis in mice.Results:CCl4,caused changes of several biomarkers, provingits hepatotoxic effects, such as an increase inaminotransferases liver enzymes alanine and aspartatetransaminases (ALT, AST), malondialdehyde (MDA), andnitric oxide (NO) formation, with a decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GSSG),total antioxidant capacity (TAO), glutathione (GSH), total protein, and albumin, compared to a negative controlmice group. Compared to the CCl4group of mice, the CUR and SMX separate and/or together (CUR + SMX)treatments showed significance in (p< 0.001), ameliorated liver injury (characterized by an elevation of (ALT,AST) and a decrease (p< 0.001) in serum albumin and total protein), antioxidant (characterized by a decreasein (p< 0.001) MDA, NO; an increase (p< 0.001) SOD, GSSG, TAO; and reducing GSH), hematological changes(characterized by a decrease (p< 0.001) in white blood cells count and an increase (p< 0.001) in plateletscount, hematocrit levels, hemoglobin concentration, and (p< 0.05) red blood cells count), SDS-PAGEelectrophoresis with a decrease in protein synthesis and changes in histological examinations.Conclusions:CUR and SMX either separate or together (SUR + SMX) may be considered promisingcandidates in the prevention and treatment of liver fibrosis.Keywords:Fibrosis, Carbon tetrachloride, Curcumin, Sulfamethoxazole, Oxidative stress, Histopathology