Interaction of Curcumin with Manganese May Compromise Metal and Neurotransmitter Homeostasis in the Hippocampus of Young Mice

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

A Novel Chemically Modified Curcumin Reduces Severity of Experimental Periodontal Disease in Rats: Initial Observations

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Ação do curcumin sobre os períodos iniciais da carcinogênese bucal induzida por 4-NQO em modelo murino

Pós-graduação em Odontologia - FOAR

Efeito de um curcumin modificado quimicamente sobre a reabsorção óssea inflamatória e apoptose: estudos in vivo e in vitro

Pós-graduação em Odontologia - FOAR

A magnetically drivable nanovehicle for curcumin with antioxidant capacity and MRI relaxation properties

Curcumin possesses wide-ranging anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties and its biological activity can be linked to its potent antioxidant capacity. Superparamagnetic maghemite (gamma-Fe2O3), called surface-active maghemite nanoparticles (SAMNs) were surface-modified with curcumin molecules, due to the presence of under-coordinated Fe-III atoms on the nanoparticle surface. The so-obtained curcumin-modified SAMNs (SAMN@curcumin) had a mean size of 13 +/- 4 nm. SAMN@curcumin was characterized by transmission and scanning electron microscopy, UV/Vis, FTIR, and Mossbauer spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, bulk susceptibility (SQUID), and relaxometry measurements (MRI imaging). The high negative contrast proclivity of SAMN@curcumin to act as potential contrast agent in MRI screenings was also tested. Moreover, the redox properties of bound curcumin were probed by electrochemistry. SAMN@curcumin was studied in the presence of different electroactive molecules, namely hydroquinone, NADH and ferrocyanide, to assess its redox behavior. Finally, SAMN@curcumin was electrochemically probed in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, demonstrating the stability and reactivity of bound curcumin.

Effects of Photodynamic Therapy with Blue Light and Curcumin as Mouth Rinse for Oral Disinfection: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Longitudinal effect of curcumin-photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy in adolescents during fixed orthodontic treatment: a single-blind randomized clinical trial study

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy on streptococcus mutans using curcumin and toluidine blue activated by a novel LED device

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Comparative effects of photodynamic therapy mediated by curcumin on standard and clinical isolate of Streptococcus mutans

Aim: The aim of this study was investigate the effect of photodynamic therapy (PDT) using curcumin (C) as a photosensitizing agent irradiated with an LED (L) in the blue wavelength as a light source on a standard and clinical isolate of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) in a planktonic suspension model. Materials and methods: Suspensions of both strains were divided into 4 groups as follows: absence of C and L (control group: C–L–), with C and without L (C group: C+L–), absence of C with L (L group: C–L+) and presence of C and L (PDT group: C+L+). Three different concentrations of curcumin (0.75 mg/ml, 1.5 mg/ml and 3 mg/ml) and three light fluences of studied light source (24, 48 and 72 J cm–2) were tested. Aliquots of each studied group was plated in BHI agar and submitted to colony forming units counting (CFU/ml) and the data transformed into logarithmical scale. Results: A high photoinactivation rate of more than 70% was verified to standard S. mutans strain submitted to PDT whereas the clinical isolate showed a lower sensitivity to all the associations of curcumin and LED. A slight bacterial reduction was verified to C+L– and C–L+, demonstrating no toxic effects to the isolated application of light and photosensitizer to both S. mutans strains tested. Conclusion: Photodynamic therapy using a combination of curcumin and blue LED presented a substantial antimicrobial effect on S. mutans standard strain in a planktonic suspension model with a less pronounced effect on its clinical isolate counterparts due to resistance to this alternative approach. Clinical significance: Alternative antimicrobial approaches, as photodynamic therapy, should be encouraged due to optimal results against cariogenic bacteria aiming to prevent or treat dental caries.

Chemopreventive activity of systemically administered curcumin on oral cancer in the 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide model

Curcumin has therapeutic potential in preventing several types of cancer, including colon, liver, prostate, and breast. The goal of this study was to evaluate the chemopreventive activity of systemically administered curcumin on oral carcinogenesis induced by 4-nitroquinolone-1-oxide (4-NQO). A total of 50 male albino rats, Rattus norvegicus, (Holtzman), were divided into five groups (n=10 per group). Four of these groups were exposed to 50 ppm 4-NQO in their drinking water ad libitum for 8 or 12 weeks, two groups were treated with curcumin by oral gavage at 30 or 100 mg/kg per day, and one group was treated with corn oil (vehicle) only. The negative control group was euthanized at baseline. Tongues of all animals were removed after euthanasia and used in the subsequent analysis because the tongue is the primary site of carcinogenesis in this model. Descriptive histological analysis and immunohistochemistry for PCNA, Bcl-2, SOCS1 e-3, and STAT3 were performed to assess the oncogenic process. The gene expression of Vimentin, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, or TWIST1 was assessed using RT-qPCR as a representative of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) events. The administration of curcumin at 100 mg/kg during the 12 weeks markedly decreased the expression of PCNA, Bcl-2, SOCS1 e -3, and STAT3. Curcumin also minimized the cellular atypia under microscopic analysis and diminished the expression of the genes associated with EMT. These findings demonstrate that the systemic administration of curcumin has chemopreventive activity during oral carcinogenesis induced by 4-NQO.

Genotoxic effect of photodynamic therapy mediated by curcumin on Candida albicans

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising method for localized and specific inactivation of fungi and bacteria. A nontoxic light-sensitive compound is taken up by cells, which are then exposed selectively to light, which activates toxicity of the compound. We investigated the potential of sublethal PDT using light-sensitive curcumin (CUR) in combination with blue (455 nm) light to promote reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation in the form of singlet oxygen and DNA damage of Candida albicans. Surprisingly, CUR-mediated PDT but also light alone caused significantly longer comet tails, an indication of DNA damage of C. albicans when compared with the negative control. The intracellular ROS production was also significantly higher for the group treated only with light. However, PDT compared to blue light alone significantly slowed DNA repair. Comet tails decreased during 30 min visualized as a 90% reduction in length in the absence of light for cells treated with light alone, while comet tails of cells treated with PDT only diminished in size about 45%. These results indicate that complex mechanisms may result in PDT in a way that should be considered when choosing the photosensitive compound and other aspects of the treatment design.

Photodynamic therapy in root canals contaminated with Enterococcus faecalis using curcumin as photosensitizer

The aim of the study was to evaluate the photodynamic therapy (PDT) effect on root canals contaminated with Enterococcus faecalis using a light emitting diode (LED) light and a curcumin solution (CUR) as photosensitizer (PS). Eighty root canals from uniradicular human teeth were prepared with Protaper Universal rotary system and contaminated with E. faecalis for 21 days. They were divided as: GIa-PDT (CUR, pre-irradiation for 5 + 5 min of irradiation); GIb-PDT (CUR, pre-irradiation for 5 + 10 min of irradiation); GIIa-(CUR, pre-irradiation for 5 + 5 min without irradiation); GIIb-(CUR pre-irradiation for 5 + 10 min of irradiation); GIIIa-(physiological solution and irradiation for 5 min); and GIIIb-(physiological solution and irradiation for 10 min); positive and negative control groups. Collections from root canals were made at time intervals of 21 days after contamination, immediately after treatment, and 7 days after treatment, and submitted to colony forming units per milliter (CFU mL-1) counts. The data were submitted to ANOVA and Tukey multiple comparison tests, at a level of significance of 5 %. In the immediate post-treatment collection, group GIa showed greater bacterial reduction in comparison with GIIa, GIIb, GIIIa, GIIIb, and positive control (P < 0.05). At 7 days post-treatment, GIa showed significant bacterial reduction only in comparison with GIIIa (P < 0.05). Curcumin as sensitizer was effective by 5 min LED irradiation but not by 10 min irradiation PDT using LED light, and curcumin as PS was not effective in eliminating E. faecalis. No difference was observed for periods of irradiation.

Stability of curcumin microencapsulated by spray and freeze drying in binary and ternary matrices of maltodextrin, gum arabic and modified starch

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Chemopreventive Activity of Systemically Administered Curcumin on Oral Cancer in the 4-Nitroquinoline 1-Oxide Model

Curcumin has therapeutic potential in preventing several types of cancer, including colon, liver, prostate, and breast. The goal of this study was to evaluate the chemopreventive activity of systemically administered curcumin on oral carcinogenesis induced by 4-nitroquinolone-1-oxide (4-NQO). A total of 50 male albino rats, Rattus norvegicus, (Holtzman), were divided into five groups (n = 10 per group). Four of these groups were exposed to 50 ppm 4-NQO in their drinking water ad libitum for 8 or 12 weeks, two groups were treated with curcumin by oral gavage at 30 or 100 mg/kg per day, and one group was treated with corn oil (vehicle) only. The negative control group was euthanized at baseline. Tongues of all animals were removed after euthanasia and used in the subsequent analysis because the tongue is the primary site of carcinogenesis in this model. Descriptive histological analysis and immunohistochemistry for PCNA, Bcl-2, SOCS1 e-3, and STAT3 were performed to assess the oncogenic process. The gene expression of Vimentin, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, or TWIST1 was assessed using RT-qPCR as a representative of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) events. The administration of curcumin at 100 mg/kg during the 12 weeks markedly decreased the expression of PCNA, Bcl-2, SOCS1 e-3, and STAT3. Curcumin also minimized the cellular atypia under microscopic analysis and diminished the expression of the genes associated with EMT. These findings demonstrate that the systemic administration of curcumin has chemopreventive activity during oral carcinogenesis induced by 4-NQO. J. Cell. Biochem. 116: 787-796, 2015. (C) 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.