Curcumin restores hepatic epigenetic changes in propylthiouracil(PTU)Induced hypothyroid male rats: A study on DNMTs, MBDs, GADD45a, C/EBP-β and PCNA.

6-n-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU), a thioamide drug, is used as an effective anti-thyroid agent to treat hyperthyroidism and Graves' disease. However, acute liver oxidative damage is an important side effect of the drug. In the present study, we report that PTU administration to rat induces hepatic epigenetic changes by upregulating expression of DNMT1, DNMT3a, DNMT3b, MBD4, MeCP2, p53 and Gadd45a and down-regulation of PCNA and C/EBP-β. This is accompanied by decrease in the cell population and augmentation of cellular lipid peroxidation, an index of oxidative stress, in liver. On the other hand, co-administration of curcumin, a polyphenol extract from the rhizome of Curcuma longa L, along with PTU ameliorates PTU- induced oxidative stress and epigenetic parameters except for the expression of MBD4. Also, co-administration of curcumin with PTU resulted in restoration of hepatic cell population and histoarchitecture. The protective effect of curcumin to PTU-induced hepatotoxicity is attributed to its antioxidative properties.