title: Photokilling of bacteria by the natural dye curcumin.
abstract: Curcumin is a yellow-orange compound derived from the root of Curcuma longa (Zingiberaceae family), that has been used as a medicine, spice and coloring agent. Curcumin has proved nontoxic in a number of cell culture and whole animal studies. Curcumin has, however, been reported to have bactericidal effects at very high concentrations. When illuminated, curcumin exerted potent phototoxic effects in micromolar amounts. Gram-negative bacteria displayed greater resistance to curcumin phototoxicity relative to Gram-positive bacteria. Oxygen was required for curcumin phototoxicity. Curcumin binding to cells was not required for photokilling; the reactive intermediate therefore must be relatively long-lived. The mechanism(s) of curcumin phototoxicity may involve hydrogen peroxide production. Singlet excited oxygen was not detected.
authors.affiliation: Center for Photochemical Sciences, Bowling Green State University, OH 43403.
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Dahl
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: McGowan
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Shand
authors.forename: V S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Srinivasan
mesh_terms: D002396:Catechols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D008027:Light; D015394:Molecular Structure; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000187:drug effects; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D002396:Catechols; D003474:Curcumin