In vitro study of parasite elimination and endothelial protection by curcumin: adjunctive therapy for cerebral malaria

Authors

  • Sarun Kunwittaya Department of Clinical Microbiology and Applied Technology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
  • Lertyot Treeratanapiboon Center for Innovation Development and Technology Transfer, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
  • Apapan Srisarin Department of Clinical Microscopy, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
  • Chartchalerm Isarankura-Na-Ayudhya Department of Clinical Microbiology and Applied Technology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
  • Virapong Prachayasittikul Department of Clinical Microbiology and Applied Technology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand

Keywords:

apoptosis, brain endothelial cells, curcumin, malaria, Plasmodium falciparum

Abstract

Plasmodium falciparum infection can abruptly progress to severe malaria and cerebral malaria. Despite the current efficiency of antimalarial drugs in killing parasites, no specific effective treatment has been found for cerebral malaria. Thus, a new strategy targeting both parasite elimination and endothelial cell protection is urgently needed in this field. In this study, we determined whether curcumin, which has blood-brain permeability, antioxidative activity and/or immunomodulation property, provided a potential effect on both parasite elimination and endothelial protection. Murine brain microvascular endothelial cells (bEnd.3; ATCC) were cocultured with Plasmodium falciparum-infected red blood cells (Pf-IRBC), peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) and platelets. Apoptosis of endothelial cells was demonstrated by annexin V staining. Interestingly, curcumin exhibited high efficiency of antimalarial activity (IC50 ~10 µM) and decreased bEnd.3 apoptosis down to 60.0 % and 79.6 % upon pre-treatment and co-treatment, respectively, with Pf-IRBC, platelets and PBMC. Our findings open up a high feasibility of applying curcumin as a potential adjunctive compound for cerebral malaria treatment in the future.

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Published

2014-03-20

How to Cite

Kunwittaya, S., Treeratanapiboon, L., Srisarin, A., Isarankura-Na-Ayudhya, C., & Prachayasittikul, V. (2014). In vitro study of parasite elimination and endothelial protection by curcumin: adjunctive therapy for cerebral malaria. EXCLI Journal, 13, 287–299. Retrieved from https://www.excli.de/excli/article/view/821

Issue

Vol. 13 (2014)

Section

Original articles

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