Potential efficacy of curcumin and curcumin nanoemulsion against experimental cyclosporiasis | ||||
Parasitologists United Journal | ||||
Article 6, Volume 16, Issue 3, December 2023, Page 197-207 PDF (837.78 K) | ||||
Document Type: Original Article | ||||
DOI: 10.21608/PUJ.2023.237883.1223 | ||||
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Authors | ||||
Nermine Mogahed1; MahaR Gaafar1; Thanaa Shalaby2; Eman Sheta3; Fadwa Arafa 4 | ||||
1Departments of Medical Parasitology Faculty of Medicine | ||||
2Medical Research Institute , Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt | ||||
3Departments of Pathology , Faculty of Medicine | ||||
4Departments of Medical Parasitology , Faculty of Medicine | ||||
Abstract | ||||
Background: There is an urgent need for an effective and safer sulfa-free alternative therapeutic agent considering that trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX), the drug of choice for the treatment of cyclosporiasis, is associated with numerous side effects including bone marrow suppression. Objective: To evaluate curcumin (CR), and CR nano-emulsion (CR-NE) for their anti-Cyclospora potential therapeutic effects compared to the standard treatment in both acute and relapse murine models. Material and Methods: In a case-control study, 54 male Swiss strain Albino mice received 104 sporulated Cyclospora oocysts via oral gavage. The experimental groups were treated either with CR, CR-NE, or TMPSMX. Half of the mice from each group were sacrificed on the 14th d post-infection (dpi), while the remaining mice were left to assess the recurrence of infection on the 30th dpi. Evaluation parameters included stool oocyst load, oocyst ultrastructural changes by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), antioxidant activity, and histopathological changes. Results: Compared to TMP-SMX, NE formulation increased CR potential effects. In mice receiving CRNE, a statistically significant decrease in the oocyst burden, and significant improvement in antioxidant biomarkers were evident. Moreover, SEM examination revealed deformed oocysts with irregular outer surfaces, poring, and perforations that were more evident after CR-NE treatment. Conclusion: It was concluded that CR and CR-NE may be considered novel agents for treating cyclosporiasis and further studies are needed to investigate the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of CR-NE. | ||||
Keywords | ||||
antioxidant capacity; curcumin; cyclosporiasis; nano-emulsion; malondialdehyde; therapeutic potential | ||||
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