title: Curcumin alone and in combination with augmentin protects against pulmonary inflammation and acute lung injury generated during Klebsiella pneumoniae B5055-induced lung infection in BALB/c mice.
abstract: Acute lung injuries due to acute lung infections remain a major cause of mortality. Thus a combination of an antibiotic and a compound with immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activities can help to overcome acute lung infection-induced injuries. Curcumin derived from the rhizome of turmeric has been used for decades and it exhibits anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, immunomodulatory properties by downregulation of various inflammatory mediators. Keeping these properties in mind, we investigated the anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin in a mouse model of acute inflammation by introducing Klebsiella pneumoniae B5055 into BALB/c mice via the intranasal route. Intranasal instillation of bacteria in this mouse model of acute pneumonia-induced inflammation resulted in a significant increase in neutrophil infiltration in the lungs along with increased production of various inflammatory mediators [i.e. malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), nitric oxide (NO), tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha] in the lung tissue. The animals that received curcumin alone orally or in combination with augmentin, 15 days prior to bacterial instillation into the lungs via the intranasal route, showed a significant (P <0.05) decrease in neutrophil influx into the lungs and a significant (P <0.05) decrease in the production of MDA, NO, MPO activity and TNF-alpha levels. Augmentin treatment alone did not decrease the MDA, MPO, NO and TNF-alpha levels significantly (P >0.05) as compared to the control group. We therefore conclude that curcumin ameliorates lung inflammation induced by K. pneumoniae B5055 without significantly (P <0.05) decreasing the bacterial load in the lung tissue whereas augmentin takes care of bacterial proliferation. Hence, curcumin can be used as an adjunct therapy along with antibiotics as an anti-inflammatory or an immunomodulatory agent in the case of acute lung infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India.
authors.forename: Shruti
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bansal
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India.
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chhibber
mesh_terms: D055371:Acute Lung Injury / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D003474:Curcumin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D007710:Klebsiella Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae; D008168:Lung / Q000201:enzymology / Q000382:microbiology; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000032:analysis; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D020556:Neutrophil Infiltration; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000032:analysis; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination; D009195:Peroxidase; D003474:Curcumin