Abstract:
Background: Curcumin exerts anti-oxidant and anti-infl ammatory properties that have proven to be
of value in the management of several parasitic infections.
Objective: Investigation of the value of curcumin in the management of trichinosis either alone or as
an adjuvant to albendazole.
Methods: Animals received either curcumin 150 mg/kg, curcumin 300 mg/kg, albendazole 50 mg/
kg or combined curcumin 150mg/kg and albendazole 50 mg/kg and were compared with control in-
fected and non-infected mice. Estimation of intestinal and muscular parasitic load and blood malon-
dialdehyde level, in addition to the histopathological examination of small intestine, skeletal muscle
tissue and heart was performed. Also, assessment of the local expression of cyclooxygenase-2
enzyme (COX-2) and CD34 in these samples was done by immunohistochemistry.
Results: Curcumin was found effi cient in reducing parasitic load. It also lowered serum MDA level,
local COX-2 and CD34 expression. An evident anti-infl ammatory effect of curcumin was observed
in intestinal, skeletal muscle and cardiac muscle histopathological sections.
Conclusion: The anti-infl ammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-angiogenic effects of curcumin can help to
improve trichinellosis-induced pathology. Curcumin can therefore be of value as an adjuvant therapy
to conventional antiparasitic agents and can also produce promising results when used alone at
higher doses.
