title: Curcumin overcomes the inhibitory effect of nitric oxide on Leishmania.
abstract: Upon Leishmania infection, macrophages are activated to produce nitrogen and oxygen radicals simultaneously. It is well established that the infected host cells rely on nitric oxide (NO) as the major weapon against the intracellular parasite. In India where leishmaniasis is endemic, the spice turmeric is used prolifically in food and for insect bites. Curcumin, the active principle of turmeric, is a scavenger of NO. This report shows that curcumin protects promastigotes and amastigotes of the visceral species, Leishmania donovani, and promastigotes of the cutaneous species, L. major, against the actions of S-nitroso-N-acetyl-D,L-penicillamine (SNAP) and DETANONOate, which release NO, 3-morpholino-sydnonimine hydrochloride (SIN-1), which releases NO and superoxide, and peroxynitrite, which is formed from the reaction of NO with superoxide. Thus, curcumin, as an antioxidant, is capable of blocking the action of both NO and NO congeners on the Leishmania parasite.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Temple University School of Medicine, 3400 North Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA. marion.chan@temple.edu
authors.forename: Marion Man-Ying
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Naga Suresh
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Adapala
authors.forename: Dunne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007893:Leishmania donovani / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D018320:Leishmania major / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008981:Molsidomine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009603:Nitroso Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D010396:Penicillamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D030421:Peroxynitrous Acid / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors; D009603:Nitroso Compounds; C110881:S-nitro-N-acetylpenicillamine; C094210:2,2'-(hydroxynitrosohydrazono)bis-ethanamine; D030421:Peroxynitrous Acid; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C002385:linsidomine; D008981:Molsidomine; D010396:Penicillamine; D003474:Curcumin