Background: Curcumin is the major active ingredient of Curcuma longa L., traditionally known as turmeric (Tur) and has been shown to exhibit a wide range of pharmacological activities including anti-parasitic effect. However, it is found to be water-insoluble and has low bioavailability. The aim of the present work is to explore the potential role of Tur solved in olive oil either alone or in combination with PZQ in treatment of schistosomiasis mansoni.
Methods: The whole Tur powder suspended in olive oil (as a solvent) is indicated to S. mansoni infected mice aiming to study its potential therapeutic role, either alone or in combination with PZQ.
Results: Our result show that Tur significantly reduced S. mansoni worm burden and complete absence of adult worms achieved in mice treated with combination of Tur and PZQ. Tur has slight non-significant effect on the oogram pattern in all examined S. mansoni infected mice. Tur and PZQ found to exert a significant reduction of granuloma size in comparison with control. However, tur has a non-significant effect on granuloma number. On the other hand, Tur or/and PZQ treated mice showed obvious improvement of pathology with mild cloudy swelling and less hydropic degeneration.
Conclusion: although Tur significantly reduced parasite worm burden, granuloma size and consequently the pathology of affected liver, it still far less effective than PZQ.