Journal of Translational Medical Research

Background and Aim: The metabolism of many drugs and toxins is done in the liver and active metabolites are created during the metabolism of these substances which many of them cause liver toxicity. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of curcumin on liver toxicity induced by Thioacetamide in adult male rats.
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 48mature female rats were divided into 6 groups including control, sham and 4 experimental groups receiving Thioacetamide (50mg/kg), Thioacetamide plus curcumin30 and 120, 60 mg/kg. In this study, Thioacetamide and curcumin were administered as intraperitoneally in 21 consecutive days. At the end, the activity of enzymes such as alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and were measured and liver structure of the animals was investigated. The results were analyzed by ANOVA and Duncan tests at a significant level of p≤0.05.
Results: The results of this study showed that Thioacetamide significantly increased the activity of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase enzymes at the level of p≤0.05 compared to the control group and increased the lymphocyte invasion around the portal of the triad and tissue degradation of the liver. However, curcumin in different doses significantly reduced the activity of these enzymes and improved the liver tissue structure at the level of p≤0.05 compared to the group receiving Thioacetamide.
Conclusion: The results of this study showed that Thioacetamide may increase the activity of transaminases and damage the liver tissue structure by producing oxidative stress, while the use of curcumin with thioacetamide simultaneously probably reduces the activity of transaminases and improves tissue structure due to the antioxidant properties of curcumin.

Background and Aims: Researchers have recently considered the impact of herbal supplements combined with exercise on weight control. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Spirulina platensis green-blue algae consumption, and circuit resistance training (CRT) on lipid profile in overweight and obese middle-aged men.
Materials and Methods: This was a single-blind, quasi-experimental and applied study. The study population included 60 overweight and obese men in the age range of 30-55 years with a body mass index of more than 25 (kg/m²). The participants were purposefully selected and randomly divided into four groups of training plus spirulina (N=15); training plus placebo; spirulina; and Placebo. The intervention and placebo groups took two 500 mg spirulina capsules, and placebo capsules daily for eight weeks, respectively. The CRT was performed for eight weeks and three sessions per week based on a flexible timing pattern, with the observation of the principle of overload with rest intervals between stations and sets.
Results: There was a significant difference between the study groups in terms of the levels of triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) of the participants (P<0.05). Moreover, in the intra-group investigation, there was a significant reduction in the values of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglyceride (TG), in the groups of training plus spirulina and training plus placebo, cholesterol (TC), and (Aspartate aminotransferase) AST in the groups of training plus spirulina had a significant decrease, Moreover, a significant increase was observed in the levels of HDL and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in the group of training plus spirulina.
Conclusion: It seems that the consumption of Spirulina platensis green-blue algae combined with CRT can be effective in controlling weight and obesity and preventing obesity-related diseases through the improvement of some indices of metabolic profile and body composition.