curcumin and Schistosomiasis-mansoni

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

Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Curcuma; Curcumin; Disease Models, Animal; Disulfides; DNA Fragmentation; Female; Garlic; Liver; Male; Mice; Parasite Egg Count; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Praziquantel; Schistosoma mansoni; Schistosomiasis mansoni; Schistosomicides; Sulfinic Acids; Treatment Outcome

Schistosomiasis is a serious parasitic infection affecting millions worldwide. This study aimed to explore the anti-schistosomal activity of curcumin and curcumin loaded gold-nanoparticles (Cur-GNPs) with or without praziquantel (PZQ). We used six groups of the C57BL/6 mice in which five groups were infected with Schistosoma Mansoni (S. mansoni) cercariae and exhibited, separately, to different treatment regimens of curcumin, curcumin loaded nanoparticle, and PZQ, in addition to one untreated group which acts as a control. Mice were sacrificed at the 8th week where both worms and eggs were counted in the hepatic and porto-mesenteric vessels in the liver and intestine, respectively, in addition to a histopathological examination of the liver granuloma. Curcumin caused a significant reduction in the worms and egg count (45.45%) at the 3rd week. A significant schistosomicidal effect of PZQ was found in all groups. Cur-GNPs combined with PZQ 97.4% reduction of worm burden in the 3rd week and the highest reduction in the intestinal and hepatic egg content, as well, besides 70.1% reduction of the granuloma size. The results suggested the curcumin in combination with PZQ as a strong schistosomicidal regimen against S. mansoni as it alters the hematological, biochemical, and immunological changes induced.

Topics: Animals; Anthelmintics; Curcumin; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Synergism; Female; Gold; Male; Metal Nanoparticles; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Parasite Egg Count; Praziquantel; Schistosoma mansoni; Schistosomiasis mansoni; Treatment Outcome

The present study was designed to examine the potential preventive and curative effects of curcumin, resveratrol, imatinib, rosiglitazone, losartan and bosentan (BOS) on Schistosoma mansoni-induced liver fibrosis in mice. Induction of liver fibrosis was produced in male Swiss mice by subcutaneous injection of S. mansoni cercariae per mouse. Mice were left for 28 days before starting the experiment then mice were divided into two main groups. The first group was further subdivided into experimental groups and started drug treatment at day 28 after infection and continued for 2 weeks in order to evaluate the potential preventive effects of the mentioned drugs on S. mansoni-induced liver fibrosis. The second group of mice were left for 2 weeks and then treated with praziquantel for two consecutive days to eradicate the worms and so stop egg disposition and further fibrosis development. Mice were then subdivided into the experimental groups and drug treatment was started for 2 weeks to evaluate their efficacy to decrease the developed fibrosis. At the end of the experiment period, mice were killed and serum was collected for the estimation of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), bilirubin and albumin. Liver tissue was taken for the estimation of hepatic hydroxyproline content and histopathological examination to confirm the biochemical results. Results of the study indicate that curcumin and imatinib have potent antifibrotic activity both in suppressing and reversing S. mansoni-induced liver fibrosis, while resveratrol has beneficial effects only in suppressing the development of S. mansoni-induced liver fibrosis.

Topics: Alanine Transaminase; Animals; Aspartate Aminotransferases; Benzamides; Bilirubin; Curcumin; Hydroxyproline; Imatinib Mesylate; Liver; Liver Cirrhosis; Male; Mice; Piperazines; Pyrimidines; Resveratrol; Schistosoma mansoni; Schistosomiasis mansoni; Serum Albumin; Stilbenes

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

Batch of freshly shed cercariae from infected laboratory bred Biomphalaria alexandrina were exposed to different sub-lethal concentrations of turmeric extract for an hour and divided into two groups. The first one was to study the ultrastructural changes induced in them using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The second group was to study infectivity and pathogenicity of the exposed cercariae. One hundred and fifty mice were divided into 5 groups: GI: Infected by normal cercariae and served as controls; GII, GIII, GIV & GV infected by cercariae exposed to 2.5, 5, 7.5 & 10 ppm, respectively. Ten weeks post infection all animals were sacrificed and subjected to parasitologic, histopathologic and immunologic assays. SEM showed cercariae exposed to 5 ppm with minimal destruction of head spines and tail. The degenerative changes were progressively severe by increasing extract concentration to reach complete destruction of both at 10 ppm. Infectivity decreased with the increase in concentration to reach highest significance at 10 ppm. Pathogenicity or mean number of egg deposited, mean diameter of liver granulomas and level of IL-10 gene expression significantly decreased in Gs IV & V.

Topics: Animals; Biomphalaria; Curcuma; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Host-Parasite Interactions; Male; Mice; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Parasite Egg Count; Plant Extracts; Random Allocation; Schistosoma mansoni; Schistosomiasis mansoni

With a view to clarify the induction of the "Crabtree consequence" in liver cells of S. mansoni infected mice, the curative effect of oil extract of C. longa was tested and compared to praziquantel (PZQ) the effective drug against all schistosome species occurring in man. Protein, glucose, glucose-6-phopsphatase, AMP-deaminase, adensoine deaminase, urea concentration, pyravate kinase (PK), phosphoenol pyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and PK/PEPCK ratio were estimated. In addition, worm burden and ova count in mice infected with S. mansoni were elucidated. The result showed that C. longa normalized the concentration of protein, glucose, AMP-deaminase and adenosine deaminase, which were changed by infection. Moreover, it lowered pyruvate kinase level, while PZQ-treatment induced more elevation of this enzyme. PZQ was more effective in lowering worm burden while C. longa extract was more potent in reducing egg count.

Topics: Animals; Curcuma; Humans; Liver; Male; Mice; Parasite Egg Count; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Praziquantel; Schistosoma mansoni; Schistosomiasis mansoni; Schistosomicides

Effect of drug praziquantel (PZQ) and C. longa extract on S. mansoni infected mice is reported. The level of glycogen, alkaline and acid phosphatases (ALP and ACP respectively), and body weight, liver weight and liver weight/body weight ratio were studied in mice infected with S. mansoni. ALP level was increased after infection. C. longa treated mice showed marked reduction in ALP level more than after PZQ-treatment. C. longa enhanced the concentration of glycogen after being reduced by infection, while PZQ-treatment revealed more reduction. C. longa caused enhancement in body weight while PZQ treatment had no effect. The formation of granuloma around schistosome eggs in the liver produced inflammation. C. longa extract and PZQ were effective in reducing granuloma size in infected mice.

Topics: Alkaline Phosphatase; Animals; Body Weight; Curcuma; Liver Diseases; Male; Mice; Organ Size; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Praziquantel; Schistosoma mansoni; Schistosomiasis mansoni