Effect of free and nano-encapsulated curcumin on treatment and energetic metabolism of gerbils infected by Listeria monocytogenes

• Published in: Microbial pathogenesis 2019-09, Vol.134, p.103564-103564, Article 103564
• Main Authors: Jaguezeski, Antonise M., Souza, Carine F., Perin, Gessica, Reis, João H., Gomes, Teane M.A., Baldissera, Matheus D., Vaucher, Rodrigo A., de Andrade, Cinthia M., Stefani, Lenita M., Gundel, Samanta S., Ourique, Aline F., Da Silva, Aleksandro S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adenosine Triphosphatases; Adenylate Kinase - drug effects; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - administration & dosage; Anti-Bacterial Agents - chemistry; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Curcuma longa; Curcumin - administration & dosage; Curcumin - chemistry; Curcumin - therapeutic use; Dietary Supplements; Disease Models, Animal; Energetic homeostasis; Eudragit L-100; Gerbillinae; Homeostasis - drug effects; Inflammation; Lipid Peroxidation - drug effects; Lipoperoxidation; Listeria monocytogenes - drug effects; Listeriosis; Listeriosis - drug therapy; Listeriosis - microbiology; Listeriosis - veterinary; Liver - pathology; Nanocapsules - chemistry; Polymethacrylic Acids - chemistry; Polymethacrylic Acids - pharmacology; Polymethacrylic Acids - therapeutic use; Pyruvate Kinase - drug effects; Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase - drug effects; Spleen - pathology
• ISSN: 0882-4010; 1096-1208
• DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2019.103564

Bacterial infections require special care since the indiscriminate use of antibiotics to treat them has been linked to the emergence of resistant strains. In this sense, phytoterapeutic alternatives such as curcumin and its nanocapsules have emerged as a promising supplement in optimizing availability of bioactives and reducing the development of antimicrobial resistance. Thus, the aim of this study was to verify the effects of pure and nanoencapsulated curcumin in the treatment of experimental listeriosis in gerbils regarding many aspects including antibacterial effect, antioxidant mechanisms involved and the energetic metabolism. Four groups were used containing 6 animals each: T0 (control), T1 (infected), T2 (infected and treated with free curcumin - dose of 30 mg/kg/day) and T3 (infected and treated with nanocapsules containing curcumin - a dose of 3 mg/kg/day). Treated animals received curcumin for 6 consecutive days starting 24 h after Listeria monocytogenes infection. All animals were euthanized on the 12th day after L. monocytogenes infection. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) identified L. monocytogenes DNA in the spleens of all animals of the T1 group, as well as T2 (2 out of 6) and T3 (5 out of 6). The weight of the spleens confirmed the infection, since it was larger in the T1 group, differing statistically from T0, and similarly to T2 and T3. Hepatic histopathological examination showed mild infiltration of neutrophils and macrophages, except for the T3 group (only 1/6). In the liver, the pyruvate kinase activity was higher in T1 and T2 compared to T0 and T3. The adenylate kinase activity did not differ between groups. The Na+/K+ATPase activity was lower in T1 group compared to T0 and T3. Lipoperoxidation was lower in the T3 group compared to groups T0, T1 and T2. The antioxidant capacity against peroxyl radicals was higher in T1, T2 and T3 groups compared to T0. In conclusion, free curcumin showed potent antibacterial effects; however, the nanoencapsulated form was able to minimize the effects caused by L. monocytogenes regarding tissue injury, changes on enzymes of the energetic metabolism, in addition to an antioxidant effect against lipoperoxidation. [Display omitted] •Free curcumin showed better antibacterial effect than nanoencapsulated form.•Nanocapsules with curcumin restored PK and Na+/K + ATPase activity.•LPO decreased in infected animals treated with nanoencapsulated curcumin.•Animals infected and treated with nanoencaps