Treatment of colitis by oral negatively charged nanostructured curcumin in rats

Abstract

Purpose: To examine the effects of a negatively charged nanostructured curcumin microemulsion in experimental ulcerative colitis (UC) in rats. Methods: Four percent acetic acid was used to induce UC. The animals were treated for seven days and randomly assigned to four groups: normal control (NC), colitis/normal saline (COL/NS), colitis/curcumin (COL/CUR), and colitis/mesalazine (COL/MES). The nanostructured curcumin was formulated with a negative zeta potential (-16.70 ± 1.66 mV). Dosage of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin 1-β (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase), macro and microscopic evaluation of the colon tissue were analyzed. Results: The COL/CUR group had a higher level of antioxidant enzymes compared to the COL/MESgroup. The levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 were significantly lower in the colonic tissue of the COL/CUR group rats, when compared to the COL/NS and COL/MES groups (p < 0.001). The presence of ulcers in the colonic mucosa in rats of the COL/NSgroup was significantly higher than in the COL/MES group (p < 0.001). In the NC and COL/CUR groups, there were no ulcers in the colonic mucosa. Conclusions: The nanostructured microemulsion of curcumin, used orally, positively influenced the results of the treatment of UC in rats. The data also suggests that nanostructured curcumin with negative zeta potential is a promising phytopharmaceutical oral delivery system for UC therapy. Further research needs to be done to better understand the mechanisms of the negatively charged nanostructured curcumin microemulsion in UC therapy.

Recent Trends in Curcumin-Containing Inorganic-Based Nanoparticles Intended for In Vivo Cancer Therapy

“…In this scenario, we find curcumin, a polyphenol isolated from the rhizome of Curcuma longa L. [ 8 ]. Its chemical structure consists of two aromatic rings containing hydroxyl and methoxy groups, which are linked through a chain containing seven carbons of an α,β-unsaturated β-diketone moiety [ 26 , 27 ].…”

“…In this context, curcumin emerges as a potential bioactive with extensive anticancer potential against different types of cancer [ 7 ]. Curcumin is a major natural compound obtained from the rhizome of Curcuma longa L. [ 8 ]. Despite its high biological potential, it has biopharmaceutical limitations that compromise its clinical use in cancer therapy [ 9 ].…”

Curcumin-loaded nanostructured systems for treatment of leishmaniasis: a review

“…Due to its good tolerance profile and safety even at high doses (12 g/day), curc has been extensively studied as a therapeutic agent [11,14]. Numerous preclinical and clinical trials have concluded that curc has great potential for the treatment of various diseases in humans [37][38][39].…”