Add spice: curcumin helps in treating lung and skin infection

A study published in the journal Microbiology Spectrum has shown that curcumin supplementation can increase the effectiveness of therapy for Mycobacterium abscessus, a fast-growing pathogenic mycobacterium that causes lung and skin infections and is particularly dangerous for people with weakened immune systems. This is the conclusion reached by scientists from Shanghai Jiao Tong University of Transport (Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China).

Why it matters

Mycobacterium abscessus is close to the causative agent of tuberculosis and is naturally resistant to many antibiotics. When an infection occurs, it sometimes requires a year or more of multiple drugs, and the outcome is not always favourable.
One of the antibiotics used to treat multidrug-resistant mycobacteria is bedaquiline. However, research data show that even it is not always able to completely destroy the pathogen. Therefore, a group of scientists led by microbiologist Zhe Wang (Zhe Wang) to search for additional ways to improve the effectiveness of bedaquiline.

The role of curcumin

Curcumin is the natural substance that gives turmeric its bright orange colour. In Asian medicine, it has traditionally been used in the treatment of various diseases. Its potential positive effects on defence against tuberculosis have been previously reported, but the specific mechanisms remained unclear.
Scientists tested the combination of bedaquiline and curcumin in laboratory conditions. The result showed that bedaquiline alone first suppresses the growth of M. abscessus, but after a couple of weeks the bacteria begin to multiply again. When curcumin was added, however, their growth and reproduction actually stopped. The researchers hypothesised that curcumin may act as an "antibiotic resistance disruptor".

Animal experiments

To test this hypothesis, the team conducted a series of tests on mice - both those with normal immune systems and those with weakened ones. It turned out that the combination of bedaquiline and curcumin was more effective at inhibiting infection than each component alone. This suggests a synergistic effect that enhances the effectiveness against M. abscessus.

As Zhe Wang notes, the combination of bedaquiline + curcumin shows enhanced antibacterial activity and improves elimination of infection. That said, more research is needed to elucidate the exact molecular targets and mechanisms of action of the combination of bedaquiline and curcumin, and to confirm the safety of the approach for future clinical trials.

Practical significance

The idea of co-administration of plant natural compounds and "old" drugs opens new directions in the development of anti-infective strategies. For M. abscessus, which is particularly dangerous in immunocompromised patients, this solution could be an important step in improving treatment efficacy and reducing the duration of heavy antibiotic courses.