Assessment of the toxicity of copper oxide nanoparticle in the liver of male rats: Ameliorative efficacy of curcumin and its nanoparticles

Abstract Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) are metal nanoparticles that are relatively cheap and extensively utilized in polymers, coatings, ceramics, films, electronics, industrial catalysts, electronic supplies, and environmental remediation. The increased human prolonged exposure induced toxicity in different body organs. Curcumin (Cur) exhibited antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities and does not have detrimental effects when utilized in therapeutic applications. Therefore, the current work explored the therapeutic effect of curcumin in bulk and nano form (CurNPs) to protect the liver against CuONPs-induced toxicity, DNA damage, antioxidant activity and lipid peroxidation and inflammation in rat liver tissues. Sixty adult male rats were randomly divided into 6 groups [G1, control; G2; Cur; G3, CurNPS; G4, CuONPs; G5, CuONPs + Cur; G6, CuONPs + CurNPS]. This study revealed that CuONPs induced a substantial elevation in liver enzymes alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST), liver malondialdehyde (MDA), DNA fragmentation, Proliferating cell nucleus antigen (PCNA), apoptotic P53 expressions, whereas a dramatic decline in albumin, total proteins, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT) in liver homogenate were observed when compared to control. Interestingly, upon treatment with Cur or CurNPs, a restoration in biochemical parameters and histological with superior therapeutic effect for CurNPs better than Cur. Graphical Abstract