curcumin and Granuloma

The present study evaluated the antiparasitic effect of curcumin extract on Schistosoma mansoni in Swiss albino mice. The experimental design included four groups of S. mansoni - infected mice; without treatment (controls), curcumin-treated, Praziquantel (PZQ)-treated, and PZQ +curcumin treated mice. The results showed that curcumin improved ISHAK confluent necrosis score up to zero. PZQ +curcumin showed a significant reduction in portal inflammation. Both activity and fibrosis demonstrated lower scores in all treated groups, however, PZQ revealed a marked increase in confluent necrosis and interface hepatitis. Besides, the lobular inflammation revealed worsening in the overall ISHAK score in all treated groups compared with the control. Few periocular granulomas were recovered by PZQ +curcumin treatment at day 35 post-treatment (6±1.2), P-value <0.05. Curcumin revealed a mild reduction (60±7.376). Curcumin-treated groups, with and without PZQ, resulted in higher significant Immunoreactivity score (IRS) for Bcl-2-associated X (BAX) and lower Interleukine- 17A (IL-17A), and Human epidermal growth factor (EGF), compared to the control. However, PZQ revealed a lower mean IRS value in BAX, higher IL-17A and EGF in the periovulatory granuloma. It was concluded that PZQ +curcumin treatment had a potent synergistic outcome through lessening the number of granulomas, the inflammatory events, and the expression of EGF, and amelioration of apoptosis in the periovulatory granulomas if compared with either PZQ or curcumin alone.

Topics: Animals; Anthelmintics; bcl-2-Associated X Protein; Curcumin; Epidermal Growth Factor; Granuloma; Inflammation; Interleukin-17; Mice; Necrosis; Praziquantel; Schistosomiasis mansoni

The aim of the study was to investigate the safety and anti-inflammatory effects of polysaccharide fraction (F1) of Curcuma longa extract (NR-INF-02) in classical rodent models of inflammation. F1 was evaluated for its acute oral toxicity and found to be safe upto 5000 mg/kg body weight in rats. The anti-inflammatory activity of F1 was evaluated in acute (carrageenan - induced paw edema; xylene - induced ear edema) and chronic (cotton pellet - induced granuloma) models of inflammation. The results of the study demonstrated that F1 significantly (p ≤ 0.05) inhibited carrageenan-induced paw edema at 1 h and 3 h at doses of 11.25, 22.5 and 45 mg/kg body weight in rats. Also, F1 at doses of 15.75, 31.5 and 63 mg/kg significantly inhibited the xylene induced ear edema in mice. In a chronic model, F1 at 11.25, 22.5 and 45 mg/kg doses produced significant reduction of wet and dry weights of cotton pellets in rats. Overall results indicated that F1 of NR-INF-02 significantly attenuated acute and chronic inflammation in rodent models. This study emphasizes on the importance of Curcuma longa polysaccharide's role in acute and chronic inflammation.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Carrageenan; Chemical Fractionation; Curcuma; Disease Models, Animal; Edema; Female; Granuloma; Humans; Male; Mice; Plant Extracts; Polysaccharides; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Xylenes

Curcumin is a polyphenol derived from the dietary spice turmeric. It has been shown to regulate numerous transcription factors, cytokines, adhesion molecules, and enzymes that have been linked to inflammation. In addition to inhibiting the growth of a variety of pathogens, curcumin has been shown to have nematocidal activity. The present study was designed to evaluate the schistosomicidal activity of curcumin in vivo as well as immunomodulation of granulomatous inflammation and liver pathology in acute schistosomiasis mansoni. Mice were infected each with 80 Schistosoma (S.) mansoni cercariae and injected intraperitoneally with curcumin at a total dose of 400mg/kg body weight. Curcumin was effective in reducing worm and tissue-egg burdens, hepatic granuloma volume and liver collagen content by 44.4%, 30.9%, 79%, and 38.6%, respectively. Curcumin treatment restored hepatic enzymes activities to the normal levels and enhanced catalase activity in the liver tissue of infected mice. Moreover, hepato-spleenomegaly and eosinophilia induced by S. mansoni infection were largely improved with curcumin treatment. Infected mice treated with curcumin showed low serum level of both interleukin (IL)-12 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), but IL-10 level was not significantly altered. Specific IgG and IgG1 responses against both soluble worm antigen (SWAP) and soluble egg antigen (SEA) were augmented with curcumin treatment, but IgM and IgG2a responses were not significantly changed. In conclusion, curcumin treatment modulates cellular and humoral immune responses of infected mice and lead to a significant reduction of parasite burden and liver pathology in acute murine schistosomiasis mansoni.

Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Helminth; Antigens, Helminth; Catalase; Curcuma; Curcumin; Cytokines; Granuloma; Helminth Proteins; Immunoglobulin G; Immunologic Factors; Liver; Male; Mice; Parasite Egg Count; Phytotherapy; Plant Roots; Schistosoma mansoni; Schistosomiasis mansoni

Curcumin is a yellow-colored plant polyphenol with a long history of medicinal use in ayurvedic, Chinese and Japanese medicine. Studies have reported the cyclooxygenase COX-2-inhibitory activity of this polyphenol; however, none of the studies have established its antiinflammatory activity in the rat cotton pellet granuloma pouch model, which mimics subchronic inflammation in humans. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of curcumin in the cotton pellet granuloma pouch model. Furthermore, the interaction of curcumin with standard anti-inflammatory drugs at subeffective doses was studied to evaluate its potential role as adjuvant therapy. Administration of curcumin (240 mg/kg i.p.), aspirin (160 mg/kg i.p.) or rofecoxib (5 mg/kg i.p.) for 6 days in the cotton pellet granuloma pouch test exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity, as demonstrated by a decrease in both dry and wet weights of the cotton pellet as compared to the control animals. Lower doses of curcumin (120 mg/kg i.p.), aspirin (80 mg/kg i.p.) or rofecoxib (2.5 mg/kg i.p.) were ineffective. However, the combination of a subeffective dose of curcumin (120 mg/kg i.p.) with submaximal doses of aspirin (80 mg/kg i.p.) or rofecoxib (2.5 mg/kg i.p.) produced a synergistic effect. Furthermore, there was marked increase in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels (estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, ELISA) in the serum of the animals implanted with cotton pellets presenting marked inflammatory events. Daily administration of curcumin, aspirin or rofecoxib decreased the levels of TNF-alpha, further demonstrating anti-inflammatory activity. Curcumin in combination with aspirin or rofecoxib caused a further decrease in serum TNF-alpha levels. In conclusion, the results of the present study demonstrate an anti-inflammatory effect for curcumin in the cotton pellet granuloma pouch test, possibly acting through COX enzyme inhibition, and further inhibiting the generation of inflammatory mediators such as TNF-alpha. These results point toward the usefulness of curcumin as adjuvant drug therapy along with standard anti-inflammatory drugs.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Aspirin; Curcumin; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Synergism; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Granuloma; Lactones; Male; Medicine, Traditional; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Sulfones; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Scientific evidence is lacking for the antiarthritic efficacy of turmeric dietary supplements that are being promoted for arthritis treatment. Therefore, we undertook studies to determine the antiarthritic efficacy and mechanism of action of a well-characterized turmeric extract using an animal model of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).. The composition of commercial turmeric dietary supplements was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. A curcuminoid-containing turmeric extract similar in composition to these supplements was isolated and administered intraperitoneally to female Lewis rats prior to or after the onset of streptococcal cell wall-induced arthritis. Efficacy in preventing joint swelling and destruction was determined clinically, histologically, and by measurement of bone mineral density. Mechanism of action was elucidated by analysis of turmeric's effect on articular transcription factor activation, microarray analysis of articular gene expression, and verification of the physiologic effects of alterations in gene expression.. A turmeric fraction depleted of essential oils profoundly inhibited joint inflammation and periarticular joint destruction in a dose-dependent manner. In vivo treatment prevented local activation of NF-kappaB and the subsequent expression of NF-kappaB-regulated genes mediating joint inflammation and destruction, including chemokines, cyclooxygenase 2, and RANKL. Consistent with these findings, inflammatory cell influx, joint levels of prostaglandin E(2), and periarticular osteoclast formation were inhibited by turmeric extract treatment.. These translational studies demonstrate in vivo efficacy and identify a mechanism of action for a well-characterized turmeric extract that supports further clinical evaluation of turmeric dietary supplements in the treatment of RA.

Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Arthritis, Experimental; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; Curcuma; Dietary Supplements; Dinoprostone; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Gene Expression; Granuloma; Joints; Liver; Monocytes; Neutrophils; NF-kappa B; Osteoclasts; Plant Extracts; Rats; Rats, Inbred Lew; Rhizome; Spleen; Streptococcus