Curcumin for malaria therapy.
Malaria remains a major global health concern. New, inexpensive, and effective antimalarial agents are urgently needed. Here we show that curcumin, a polyphenolic organic molecule derived from turmeric, inhibits chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum growth in culture in a dose dependent manner with an IC(50) of approximately 5 microM. Additionally, oral administration of curcumin to mice infected with malaria parasite (Plasmodium berghei) reduces blood parasitemia by 80-90% and enhances their survival significantly. Thus, curcumin may represent a novel treatment for malarial infection.
Reddy
Raju C
RC
Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0360, USA.
Vatsala
Palakkodu G
PG
Keshamouni
Venkateshwar G
VG
Padmanaban
Govindarajan
G
Rangarajan
Pundi N
PN
D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003474:Curcumin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D008288:Malaria / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology; D010962:Plasmodium berghei / Q000187:drug effects; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D015996:Survival Rate
D000962:Antimalarials; D003474:Curcumin