Sensitivity of Arbor Acres broilers and chemoprevention of aflatoxin B1-induced liver injury by curcumin, a natural potent inducer of phase-II enzymes and Nrf2.

In this study, we scrutinized the effects of curcumin and AFB1 supplemented diet alone or in combination on phase-ӀӀ enzymes. Histopathological examination showed that after 28 days, AFB1 (5.0 mg/kg diet) induced liver injury in broilers, but curcumin supplementation partially ameliorated liver injury in a dose-dependent manner. RT-PCR data revealed that AFB1 significantly (p < 0.01) down-regulated Nrf2 and its downstream genes mRNA expression level. Moreover, Western blot analysis showed that Nrf2, GSTM2, and GSTA3 protein expression level was markedly (p < 0.01) reduced in AFB1-fed group. However, curcumin supplementation ameliorated AFB1-induced liver injury via enhancing phase-ӀӀ enzymes expressions and activity. HPLC results showed that curcumin increased AFB1-GSH conjugation in-vitro in liver cytosol. Surprisingly, similar trends were noted in mRNA, protein expression level of Nrf2 and its downstream genes at day 35, one week after the withdrawal of AFB1 and curcumin from the diet, showing the preventive effects of curcumin.