Evaluation of Nano‐curcumin effects against Tartrazine‐induced abnormalities in liver and kidney histology and other biochemical parameters
Authors: El‐Desoky Gaber E. , Wabaidur Saikh M. , AlOthman Zeid A. , Habila Mohamed A. 
Published: March 2022

In the current study, 40 albino male rats were investigated to evaluate the impact of Nano‐curcumin (Nano‐CUR) administration against Tartrazine (TZ)‐induced variations in kidney and liver histology and their related functions. The liver function biomarkers are (glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma‐glutamyl transaminase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (T. BiLL)), whereas the kidney biomarkers are (creatinine, uric acid, urea, globulin, total protein (TP)), as well as blood parameters of (serum glucose (sGlu), alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP), protein Kinase‐C (PKC)) and lipid profiles that include (total lipids (TL), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol (LDL‐C), high‐density L‐C (HDL‐C), and very‐low‐density L‐C (VLDL‐C)). The collected rats were randomly separated into four different groups (G1, G2, G3, and G4) of 10 rats each, where G1 stands for control, G2 for TZ‐ingestion, G3 for Nano‐CUR‐ingestion, and G4 for (TZ + Nano‐CUR mix.) ingestion. TZ‐ingestion significantly (p < .05) increases the liver function enzymes’ activity, total bilirubin and kidney biomarkers (creatinine, urea, uric acid, total protein (TP), globulin (Glu)). Also, TZ‐ingestion significantly increased sGlu, PKC, AFP, as well as lipid profiles, while there were significant (p < .05) decreases in HDL‐C and albumin (Alb) concentrations compared to control. Histopathological changes in liver, such as dilatation of blood sinusoids and central vein with hemorrhage and necrosis, were observed due to TZ‐ingestion. Similarly, TZ‐ingestion influenced kidney tissues in terms of tubular dilatation with tubular degeneration, thickened basement membrane, and dilatation of the glomerular capillaries. Markedly, the administration of Nano‐CUR significantly decreased liver and kidney function enzymes as well as sGlu, AFP, and PKC, whereas it significantly increased serum Alb and HDL‐C levels compared to control and TZ‐ingested rats. All values arranged around normal control values. Also, the liver tissue of Nano‐CUR‐ingested rats showed a normal arrangement of normal blood sinusoids(s), hepatic cords, and hepatocytes as compared to controls. The same results were also found in the section of rat kidney ingested with 2.00 g of Nano‐CUR/(kg B.W.) showing near‐normal architecture as compared to control rats. The liver tissue of rats ingested by a mixture of (7.5 mg of TZ + 2.0 g of Nano‐CUR/kg B.W.) showed little necrosis. Similarly, a section of rat kidney ingested a mixture of (7.5 mg of TZ + 2.00 g of Nano‐CUR/kg B.W.) which revealed mild tubular degeneration and dilatation of the glomerular capillaries. These results support the protective and therapeutic effects of Nano‐CUR on the histology of liver and kidneys and their related function biomarkers. Also, Nano‐CUR corrects the imbalance in serum glucose (sGlu), AFP, PKC, and lipid profiles in TZ‐ingested rats compared to control.