Investigation of the effect of curcumin on oxidative stress, local infl ammatory response, COX-2 expression, and microvessel density in Trichinella spiralis induced enteritis, myositis and myocarditis in mice

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.