title: Curcumin: a novel non-steroidal contraceptive with antimicrobial properties.
abstract: Women face unique pathologies and challenges related to the female genital tract (FGT), including vaginal infections and gynecologic cancers. Vaginal infections faced by women include bacterial vaginosis (BV), vulvovaginal candidiasis (VC), and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Curcumin, a component of the dietary spice turmeric, has immense biological properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory/immunomodulatory, and anticancer effects. It has no side effects and is well-tolerated, making it an ideal treatment modality highly desired by women. Recently, our laboratory showed, for the first time ever, that curcumin exhibits a spermicidal and broad-spectrum microbicidal activity against several species of bacteria and yeast involved in vaginal infections. Thus, it could provide a novel, non-steroidal contraceptive having both spermicidal and microbicidal properties and can be panacea in women for treatment of several FGT pathologies, including gynecologic cancers.
authors.affiliation: Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center North, West Virginia University, School of Medicine, Room 2085, 1 Medical Center Drive, Morgantown, WV 26506-9186, USA, rnaz@hsc.wvu.edu.
authors.forename: Rajesh K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Naz
authors.affiliation: Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center North, West Virginia University, School of Medicine, Room 2085, 1 Medical Center Drive, Morgantown, WV 26506-9186, USA.
authors.forename: Morgan L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Lough
authors.affiliation: Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center North, West Virginia University, School of Medicine, Room 2085, 1 Medical Center Drive, Morgantown, WV 26506-9186, USA.
authors.forename: Erin K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Barthelmess
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D003474:Curcumin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D014623:Vaginal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D003474:Curcumin