title: Effects of curcumin on lung histopathology and fungal burden in a mouse model of chronic asthma and oropharyngeal candidiasis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) is one of the most common local side effects of current therapy in chronic asthma. New therapeutic options with fewer side effects and reverse chronic changes are needed. Curcumin, as a promising antiinflammatory and antifungal agent, could be a candidate of alternative therapy in asthma. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of orally administrated curcumin on lung histopathology, serum nitric oxide levels and fungal burden in a murine model of asthma and OPC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty five BALB/c mice were divided into five groups: I, II, III, IV (placebo) and V (control). All groups except the control were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin. OPC model was established after the model of chronic asthma. Lung histology, serum nitric oxide levels and fungal burden were evaluated after 5 days of treatment with curcumin, dexamethasone, curcumin-dexamethasone combination and placebo. Evaluation of lung histology included subepithelial smooth muscle and epithelial thickness and number of goblet and mast cells by using light microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All histological parameters improved in curcumin group similar to dexamethasone group. Curcumin and dexamethasone-curcumin combination were also as effective as dexamethasone on decreasing nitric oxide levels. Oral fungal burden was significantly lower in curcumin-treated group than dexamethasone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our study we demonstrated that curcumin administration alleviates the pathological changes in asthma and decreases the fungal burden. Curcumin may have a potential effect on treating chronic asthma and decreasing the frequency of the OPC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Multidisciplinary Laboratory, Dokuz Eylul University Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Meral
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karaman
authors.forename: Zeynep
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Arıkan Ayyıldız
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fırıncı
authors.forename: Müge
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kiray
authors.forename: Alper
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bağrıyanık
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Nevin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Uzuner
authors.forename: Ozkan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Karaman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood; D010047:Ovalbumin; D014059:Tongue / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D003907:Dexamethasone; D010047:Ovalbumin; D003474:Curcumin