Curcumin for malaria therapy

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2005 Jan 14;326(2):472-4. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2004.11.051.

Abstract

Malaria remains a major global health concern. New, inexpensive, and effective antimalarial agents are urgently needed. Here we show that curcumin, a polyphenolic organic molecule derived from turmeric, inhibits chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum growth in culture in a dose dependent manner with an IC(50) of approximately 5 microM. Additionally, oral administration of curcumin to mice infected with malaria parasite (Plasmodium berghei) reduces blood parasitemia by 80-90% and enhances their survival significantly. Thus, curcumin may represent a novel treatment for malarial infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antimalarials / administration & dosage
  • Antimalarials / pharmacology*
  • Antimalarials / therapeutic use*
  • Curcumin / administration & dosage
  • Curcumin / pharmacology*
  • Curcumin / therapeutic use*
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Malaria / blood
  • Malaria / drug therapy*
  • Malaria / parasitology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Parasitemia / blood
  • Parasitemia / drug therapy
  • Parasitemia / parasitology
  • Plasmodium berghei / drug effects
  • Plasmodium falciparum / drug effects
  • Plasmodium falciparum / growth & development
  • Survival Rate

Substances

  • Antimalarials
  • Curcumin