Interestingly, it also demonstrates that the activating effect of LDL can be reversed by curcumin. The hypocholesterolemic action of curcumin was reported by numerous studies: curcumin seems to reduce serum cholesterol concentrations by increasing hepatic expression of LDL receptors, by blocking LDL oxidation, increasing bile acid secretion, and faecal excretion of cholesterol, repressing the expression of genes involved in cholesterol biosynthesis and protecting against liver injury and fibrogenesis [41, 42] . Curcumin induces apoptosis and blocks proliferation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), and, via activation of PPARγ, inhibits extracellular matrix formation, downregulates the expression of LDL receptors, induces SREBP-1c,and increases the fat-storing capacity of HSC, and it may thereby restore this "protective" functionality, proving of therapeutic usage in preventing liver steatosis and fibrosis [43] .