Title:The Effect of Curcumin on the Expression of INFγ, TNF-α, and iNOS
Genes in PBMCs Infected with Leishmania major [MRHO/IR/75/ER]
Volume: 22
Issue: 6
Author(s): Soheila Alinejad, Shahram Khademvatan*, Shahla Amani*, Negar Asadi, Khosrow Hazrati Tappeh, Elham Yousefi and Touraj Miandoabi
Affiliation:
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Cellular and Molecular Medicine Institute & Department of Medical Parasitology
and Mycology, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Cellular and Molecular Medicine Institute & Department of Medical Parasitology
and Mycology, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
- Student Research Committee, Urmia
University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
Keywords:
Curcumin, gene expression, Leishmania major, PBMCs, tumor necrosis factor, interferon gamma.
Abstract:
Background: Leishmaniasis, caused by the Leishmania parasite, is one of the most important
tropical neglected diseases. The urgent search for effective, inexpensive, and preferably herbal
anti-leishmanial agents, is needed.
Objective: Curcumin is a natural polyphenolic compound derived from turmeric that is well known for
its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and anti-cancer activity.
Methods: The present work evaluates the anti-leishmanial [Leishmania major] activity of curcumin.
The infected PBMCs were treated with curcumin. The ROS level at 6, 12, 24 h and gene expression
levels at 24, 48, and 72 h of PBMCs after treatment with curcumin were determined.
Results: Based on the results, the curcumin concentrations of 268 μM [24 h] and 181.2 μM [72 h] were
defined as IC50 against L. major promastigotes. Treatment of L. major infected-peripheral blood mononuclear
cells [PBMCs] with IC50 concentrations of curcumin, depending on exposure time, significantly
induced the reactive oxygen species [ROS] generation and increased the expression levels of interferongamma
[IFN-γ], tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α], and nitric oxide synthase [iNOS] genes.
Conclusion: These findings suggest the potential of curcumin against Leishmaniasis.