EFFECT OF NANOCURCUMIN PARTICLES PREPARED BY TOP-DOWN METHOD ON CCl4-INDUCED HEPATIC FIBROSIS MICE

Curcumin, a hydrophobic polyphenolic compound derived from the rhizome of the herb Curcuma longa, possesses a wide range of biological applications including anti-cancer. Nanocurcumin particles were prepared by top-down method as its can improve hydrophilic and increase bioavailability. As a result, curcumin concentration was yielded up to 10% (w/w), and the particle size was defined less than 1,000 nm in diameter. The particles were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), dynamic laser light scattering (DLS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The acute oral toxicity was done with a dose up to 500 mg per kg of body weight and no dead mice were found indicating the nanocurcumin particles are safe for long-term use. The model of hepatic fibrosis mice was induced by intraperitoneal (i.p) injection of 0.8 mL of carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) in olive oil (1:3 v/v) per kg of body weight. Nanocurcumin particles (15 mg/kg of body weight) were orally administered to hepatic fibrosismouse model in 4 weeks to evaluate the therapeutic potential in comparison to other groups. The results indicate that nanocurcumin have significant effects on reducing levels of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in CCl₄-induced hepatic fibrosis mice. Histological examination shows that hepaticfibrotic livers of mice treated with nanocurcumin particles were recovered after 4 weeks.