Amelioration of age-related alterations in rat liver: Effects of curcumin C3 complex, Astragalus membranaceus and blueberry.

ABSTRACT

Ageing is an unavoidable, universal, biological phenomenon affecting all organisms, which involves variable declines of individuals motor and memory capabilities. This study aimed to investigate the potential ameliorating effects of curcumin C3 complex, Astragalus membranaceus and blueberry on certain age-related biochemical alterations in rat liver. Four groups of rats, aged 12 months-old, were used. The first group; aged control group in which rats were left without any treatment until the age of 17 months. The other three groups received daily by oral gavage for 5 months the following supplements; curcumin C3 complex (110 mg/kg), Astragalus membranaceus (100 mg/kg) and blueberry (100 mg/kg) respectively. Additionally, a fifth group of rats, aged 5 months-old, was used as an adult control group. Our supplements alleviated ageing-induced redox state imbalance and inflammation as evidenced by reduction of hepatic thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine levels, restoration of total antioxidant capacity and nitric oxide contents, and lessening of lipofuscin deposition. All supplements decreased hepatic interlukin-6 gene expression and serum levels. Notably, Astragalus membranaceus and blueberry upregulated hepatic telomerase reverse transcriptase gene expression and increased telomere length. Our findings recommend the use of these natural hepatoprotective supplements for the elderly to promote healthy ageing and minimize the risk of age-related liver diseases.