The binding of curcumin to various types of canine amyloid proteins.

Curcumin is a constituent phenol compound of turmeric, and has been used as a dietary spice and Indian medicine. Curcumin has been reported to inhibit the formation of amyloid β fibrils and aggregation. In this study, the binding activity of curcumin to various types of canine amyloid was examined. Tissue samples used were lesions of AA, AL, amyloid of canine amyloid-producing odontogenic tumor (Aapot), and senile cardiovascular amyloid (ScA). Curcumin stained all types of amyloid. The binding of curcumin to AA, ScA, and AL was lost by the KMnO(4) treatment, but Aapot maintained the binding. These findings indicate that curcumin binds several types of amyloid, while the binding sites of amyloid molecules might be different from that of Congo red.