Mai Ragab

Curcumin for the Managment of Liver Disease Mai Ragab

In the past, the liver was often referred to as the center of courage, passion and even the center of the soul. It is a vital organ that affects almost every organ system in the body, hence liver disease is usually a profound and life changing illness for any individual. The liver is highly susceptible to injury and usually targeted for toxicity due to its anatomical proximity to the blood supply coming from the gastrointestinal tract, as it is located midway between the gastrointestinal tract and the blood stream, and its ability to biotransform, concentrate and excrete a wide array of xenobiotics. Therefore, huge efforts are being made in order to try and protect the liver against damage. Nowadays there is an increasing interest in the use of naturally derived compounds to help protect and in some cases even cure various diseases, including liver diseases. Curcumin, the main bioactive component of the rhizomes of Curcuma Longa has long been used as a traditional medicine for the management of various liver disorders.