Background: Hepatic insufficiency is one of the most important consequences of the diabetes mellitus. A wide variety of herbs has been described for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. The aim of present study was to assess the protective effect of turmeric powder on early hepatic injuries in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

Materials and Methods: Eighty male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into 4 equal groups. Turmeric powder was added to the food regimen of turmeric treatment groups. At the end of experiment, levels of functional liver markers (AST , ALT and SALP ), TB , Alb and TP were assessed in the serum. Product of lipid peroxidation (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione reductase (GR) were also assayed in liver hemogenates. Finally, the biochemical findings were matched with histopathological verification.

Results: In the diabetic rats, turmeric powder significantly decreased the levels of serum biomarkers of hepathic injury, TB, and elevated the levels of Alb and TP. Furthermore, turmeric powder significantly decreased the lipid peroxidation and elevated the levels of antioxidant enzymes in the rats.

Conclusion: It seems that turmeric powder has protective effect on early diabetic hepatopathy in experimentally induced diabetic rats.