Effect of Curcumin on Opisthorchiasis and Cholangiocarcinoma in Animal Models

Abstract

Chronic Opisthorchis viverrini infection inducesinflammation-mediated DNA damage leading tocholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Re-infection after praziquanteltreatment is one of a relative risk factor for CCA. Severalevidences have shown that herbal agents such ascurcumin can be used as chemopreventive agents inmany diseases and cancer. Curcumin, derived from theroots of turmeric, possesses potent anti-inflammatory,anti-oxidative and antitumor activities, and has beenshown to prevent opisthorchiasis-associated CCA. Inhamsters infected with O. viverrini, curcumin and/orturmeric reduced inflammation and DNA damage.In chronic O. viverrini infection, curcumin decreasedoxidative and nitrative stress after praziquantel treatmentand reduced periductal fibrosis. Moreover, curcuminsuppressed cholangiocarcinogenesis in hamster induced bythe combination of O. viverrini infection and administrationwith N-nitrosodimethylamine. Also, curcumin exhibited acytotoxic effect on CCA cell lines via apoptotic pathway.In contrast, turmeric extract enhanced small bile ductproliferation in hamsters. The difference of solvent, route,purity, doses and duration of curcumin supplement mayproduce its double-edged sword effect. Therefore, furtherinvestigation is necessary for an effective curcumintreatment before applying in CCA patients.