The Effect of Curcumin on Functional and Structural Alterations of the Liver in Rats after MDMA Consumption

Nowadays, one of the problems of human beings is drug addiction, which
causes individual,economicand socialdamages.Oneof themost commonlyused substances
in parties is ecstasy pills or 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). This study
seeks to assess the effect of curcumin in complications of ecstasy on liver tissue in rats.
48 maleWistar rats in six groupswere treated with curcumin (20 µ mol/kg) and
MDMA (20mg/kg) simultaneously and non-simultaneously.At the end of the experiment,
blood sampleswere collected, lipidprofile, liver enzymesweremeasured andmorphologyof
liverwas done.
MDMAconsumptionhad adverse effect on lipidprofile in comparison to the control
group.Treatmentof curcuminwithMDMA consumption improved thiseffect ofMDMAon
lipid profile.Moreover,curcumin treatment concurrentwithMDMA consumption increased
liver enzymes, whereas consumption ofMDMA for 15 days and curcumin treatment in the
next 15 days decreased liver enzymes.
Our findings suggest that simultaneous consumption ofMDMA and curcumin
have a synergistic adverse effect on liver enzymes and liver tissue. It is assumed thatMDMA
intestinal absorption increased by curcumin.While non-simultaneous treatment of curcumin
andMDMA improved undesirableeffects ofMDMAon liver that is assumed by antioxidant
capabilities of curcumin.