Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 2, 2025
Trichuris muris Infection: A Model of Type 2 Immunity and Inflammation in the Gut
Published on: May 24, 2011
The neuroprotective potential of curcumin on T. Spiralis infected mice
Magda Sa Abdeltawab1, Iman R Abdel-Shafi1, Basma Emad Aboulhoda2
1Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
Background:
Trichinella spiralis can affect the brain by inducing inflammatory and vascular changes. Drug management with the antiparasitic drug albendazole can be enhanced by natural compounds such as curcumin. The potential benefit of curcumin as an adjuvant to albendazole in the management of cerebral affection during experimental T. spiralis infection was evaluated. Animals received either curcumin 150 mg/Kg, albendazole 50 mg/Kg or a combination of both drugs. Animal groups receiving treatment were compared with infected and non-infected control groups. Blood levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and dopamine were measured, and brain tissue expression of cyclooxygenase-2 enzyme (COX-2) and CD34 was assessed by immunohistochemistry.
Results:
T. spiralis infection resulted in a state of oxidative stress, which was improved by albendazole and curcumin. Also, both drugs restored the peripheral dopamine level, which was decreased in infected non-treated mice. Curcumin was also found to be efficient in improving brain pathology and reducing local COX-2 and CD 34 expression.
Conclusions:
Inflammatory and pathological changes during neurotrichinosis can be improved by the addition of curcumin to conventional anti-parasitic drugs.
