Wolkmer Patrícia, Silva Cássia B da, Paim Francine C, Duarte Marta M M F, Castro Verônica, Palma Heloisa E, França Raqueli T, Felin Diandra V, Siqueira Lucas C, Lopes Sonia T A, Schetinger Maria Rosa C, Monteiro Silvia G, Mazzanti Cinthia M
Department of Chemistry, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Brazil.
Parasitol Int. 2013 Apr;62(2):144-9. doi: 10.1016/j.parint.2012.11.004. Epub 2012 Nov 29.
The potent activity against Trypanosomes and health beneficial effects of curcumin (Cur) has been demonstrated in various experimental models. In this study, we evaluated the in vivo effect of Cur as trypanocide and as potential anti-inflammatory agent, through the evaluation of immunomodulatory mechanisms in rats infected with Trypanosoma evansi. Daily oral Cur was administered at doses of 0, 20 or 60mg/kg as preventive treatment (30 and 15days pre infection) and as treatment (post infection). The treatment of the groups continued until the day of euthanasia. Fifteen days after inoculation, parasitemia, plasma proinflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6), anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10) and blood acetylcholinesterase activity (AChE) were analyzed. Pretreatment with Cur reduced parasitemia and lethality. Cur inhibited AChE activity and improved immunological response by cytokines proinflammatory, fundamental during T. evansi infection. We found that Cur is not so important as an antitrypanosomal activity but as immunomodulator agent. These findings reveal that the preventive use of Cur stimulates anti-inflammatory mechanisms, reducing an excessive inflammatory response.
姜黄素（Cur）对锥虫的强大活性及其有益健康的作用已在各种实验模型中得到证实。在本研究中，我们通过评估感染伊氏锥虫的大鼠的免疫调节机制，来评价Cur作为杀锥虫剂和潜在抗炎剂的体内效果。每日口服Cur，剂量分别为0、20或60mg/kg，作为预防性治疗（感染前30天和15天）和治疗性治疗（感染后）。各治疗组持续给药至安乐死当天。接种15天后，分析虫血症、血浆促炎细胞因子（IFN-γ、TNF-α、IL-1、IL-6）、抗炎细胞因子（IL-10）和血液乙酰胆碱酯酶活性（AChE）。Cur预处理可降低虫血症和致死率。Cur抑制AChE活性，并通过促炎细胞因子改善免疫反应，这在伊氏锥虫感染过程中至关重要。我们发现Cur作为抗锥虫活性药物并不那么重要，而是作为免疫调节剂。这些发现表明，预防性使用Cur可刺激抗炎机制，减少过度的炎症反应。
