The protective effects of curcumin and curmumin nanomicelle against cirrhotic cardiomyopathy in bile duct-ligated rats

Objective(s): Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy refers to cardiac muscle dysfunction caused by liver cirrhosis. Seemingly, free radicals and inflammatory factors play a critical role in the pathophysiology of cardiomyopathy. Curcumin has the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties . However, the therapeutic indications of this compound are limited due to its low absorption, rapid metabolism, and low bioavailability. Curcumin nanomicelle is a form of nanoparticle developed to overcome the poor kinetic profile of curcumin and enhance its bioavailability and therapeutic effects. The present study aimed to develop an experimental model of cirrhosis induced by biliary duct ligation in rats. Materials and Methods: The animals were kept until 28 days after the bile duct ligation and received curcumin or curcumin nanomicelle via oral gavage at various doses during days 7-28. After the intervention, the effects of curcumin and curcumin nanomicelle on cardiovascular function, some inflammatory and antioxidant biomarkers, and histopathological changes were assessed. Results: According to the findings, cardiac electrophysiology function and contractile force improved only in the curcumin nanomicelle groups. In addition, curcumin nanomicelle significantly reduced inflammatory factors and increased antioxidant enzymes. In the histopathological studies, cardiac tissue damage and destruction were observed to decrease in the curcumin nanomicelle groups. Conclusion: Therefore, it was concluded that curcumin nanomicelle plays a protective role in cirrhotic cardiomyopathy by reducing inflammatory and oxidative factors and improving the cardiac function. Furthermore, curcumin nanomicelle exhibited more significant therapeutic effects compared to the curcumin treatment groups.