Curcumin has potent liver preservation properties in an isolated perfusion model

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Curcumin has potent liver preservation properties
in an isolated perfusion model

• C Chen, T D Johnston,G Wu and D Ranjan
• Section of Transplantation
• University of Kentucky
• USA

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It Started with Curry...
Tumeric Root
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Properties of Curcumin

• Curcumin an aromatic polyphenol, the yellow
  color in the spice, turmeric
• used as a pro-healing wound dressing in the
  traditional Indian medicine
• free radical scavenger
• documented anti-neoplastic properties
• Potent inhibitor of PKC, PTK, NFkB

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Objectives and design

• To test whether curcumin had liver preservation
  properties
• To determine the optimal conc. of curcumin
• To test liver preservation in isolated perfusion
  model using
• Liver enzymes
• Bile output
• Portal hemodynamics

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The Perfusion System
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Methods

• Rat livers
• Procured and immediately perfused (NL group) with
  no preservation time
• Flushed with study solution for predetermined
  length of time and then perfused
• Perfused with KH solution thru PV at 18cm
• Preservation parameters assessed

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RESULTS

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Cur concentration kinetics
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Curcumin Enhances PBS
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Cur EC ex-vivo liver
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Figure 3. Comparison of liver enzymes ALT, AST
and LDH release into the perfusate among the
three preservation techniques. Plt 0.05, ECC, NL
vs EC, n10.
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Bile Production
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Summary 1

• Improvement in Organ preservation is an important
  area of research
• Our research has focused on improvement of
  existing solutions and analysis of novel
  compounds
• ex-vivo testing indicates promising potential for
  curcumin
• enhances Euro-Collins to the level of UW
• enhances UW
• even enhances PBS

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Summary -2

• Future work for Curcumin
• In vitro testing with clinically relevant models
• Mechanism of action!
• Clinical Utility