Hepatoprotective Effects of Curcumin and Thymoquinone Against Chemically Induced Liver Injury: A Schematic Study with Meta-Analysis of Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Outcomes

Madiha  Niamat; Mohammad  Abid; Abdul Rehman Khalil  Shaikh; Sana  Masood; Fiza

doi:10.36283/ziun-pjmd14-3/077

Authors

Madiha Niamat Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan.
Mohammad Abid Bolan Medical College, Bolan University of Medical and Health Sciences, Quetta, Pakistan.
Abdul Rehman Khalil Shaikh Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan.
Sana Masood Countess of Dufferin Fund Hospital Hyderabad,Pakistan.
Fiza Sindh Government Anwar Paracha Hospital, Sukkur, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36283/ziun-pjmd14-3/077

Keywords:

Curcumin, Thymoquinones, Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury, Liver diseases, Meta-Analysis, Antioxidants, Inflammation.

Abstract

Background: Curcumin and thymoquinone are phytochemicals that have shown the ability to protect the liver in previous studies, with involvement of their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. This study aimed to examine the effective concentrations of curcumin and thymoquinone at which liver injury could be mitigated by evaluating liver enzymes and markers of liver damage. Methods: According to PRISMA 2020, this review and the diagram were created. Studies published up to 2025 were found in a thorough search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library. Included studies were experiments using animals that examined how curcumin and/or thymoquinone affected liver injury and led to changes in liver enzyme levels. Studies that were excluded were editorials, reviews, articles in languages other than English, conference abstracts, and those without any quantitative results. The OHAT Risk of Bias Rating Tool (Version January 2015) was used, and Odds ratios were used in a meta-analysis for the primary outcome, lowering of liver enzymes.

Results: Eleven studies were sampled. Meta-pooled analysis revealed that at a mean dose of 194.56 mg/kg (95% CI: 16.31-372.81), curcumin decreased liver enzymes at a significant level, whereas thymoquinone exhibited a significant effect at 27.99 mg/kg (95% CI: -7.6 to 63.59). Even though heterogeneity was high (I2 > 99%), sensitivity analysis was performed to show the robustness. The risk of bias was low to moderate, and evidence certainty was rated moderate as per GRADE.

Discussion: Liver damage is greatly reduced by curcumin and thymoquinone, mainly by lowering markers related to damaged cells in the liver. Nevertheless, restricted study designs and inconsistency of models indicated that future research should include standardized dosing as well as extended human studies.

Author Biographies

Madiha Niamat, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan.

Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics,
Mohammad Abid, Bolan Medical College, Bolan University of Medical and Health Sciences, Quetta, Pakistan.

Department of Pharmacology,
Abdul Rehman Khalil Shaikh, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan.

Department of Pathology,
Sana Masood, Countess of Dufferin Fund Hospital Hyderabad,Pakistan.

Department of Pharmacology,
Fiza, Sindh Government Anwar Paracha Hospital, Sukkur, Pakistan

Department of Pharmacology,

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