Curcumin enhances the activity of fluconazole against Cryptococcus gattii-induced cryptococcosis infection in mice. - GreenMedInfo Summary
Curcumin enhances the activity of fluconazole against Cryptococcus gattii-induced cryptococcosis infection in mice.
J Appl Microbiol. 2015 Oct 7. Epub 2015 Oct 7. PMID: 26442997
Danielle Letícia da Silva
AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro and in vivo activities of pure curcumin, as well as its combination with fluconazole, against Cryptococcus gattii.
METHODS AND RESULTS: The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of curcumin and its interactions with fluconazole against C. gattii were assessed in vitro using standard methods. This same combination was used to treat C. gattii-induced cryptococcosis in mice. The behavioural and functional assessment of the mice during treatment was also performed. The average MIC for curcumin was 19.8μg ml(-1) . Its combination with fluconazole resulted in FICΣ (fractional inhibitory concentration index) values between 0.79 and 2.29. Curcumin (alone or combined with fluconazole) significantly reduced pulmonary damage and fungal burden in the brain. No colonies were found in the brain followingcombination treatment, which was also confirmed by the improved behaviour of mice.
CONCLUSIONS: The combination therapy with curcumin and fluconazole was the most effective among the treatments tested, since, in addition to reducing the fungal burden and damage on lung tissues, it was able to eliminate the fungal burden in the brain, enhancing the survival of mice.
SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY: This study points to the possibility of using curcumin in combination with fluconazole as a clinical treatment of cryptococcosis. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.