title: Curcumin suppression of cytokine release and cytokine storm. A potential therapy for patients with Ebola and other severe viral infections.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The terminal stage of Ebola and other viral diseases is often the onset of a cytokine storm, the massive overproduction of cytokines by the body's immune system.
  
  
  METHODS
  The actions of curcumin in suppressing cytokine release and cytokine storm are discussed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Curcumin blocks cytokine release, most importantly the key pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-1, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α. The suppression of cytokine release by curcumin correlates with clinical improvement in experimental models of disease conditions where a cytokine storm plays a significant role in mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of curcumin should be investigated in patients with Ebola and cytokine storm. Intravenous formulations may allow achievement of therapeutic blood levels of curcumin.
authors.affiliation: SignPath Pharma, Inc., Quakertown, PA, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Peter P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Sordillo
authors.affiliation: SignPath Pharma, Inc., Quakertown, PA, U.S.A. lhelson@comcast.net.
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Helson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D003474:Curcumin
keywords: Curcumin; Ebola; cytokine storm; interleukin-1; interleukin-6; review; tumor necrosis factor-α