Curcumin: a Biofilm Buster
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Curcumin
A Biofilm Buster
Introduction
Biofilms are collections of microbials which provide bacteria and pathogens protection from natural immune defenses and antibiotics. Biofilms can be found on the skin, in the mouth, and in the digestive tract. Because biofilms can inhibit the successful implementation of antibiotics, the destruction or disruption of biofilms is essential to treating infection. With limited pharmaceutical therapies available, are there natural alternatives available to support the fight against biofilms?
What is curcumin?
Curcumin is an extract of turmeric, responsible for the brilliant yellow color of the well-known spice [Ref #12]. The health benefits of turmeric’s active compound, curcumin, have been studied and have proven numerous. Curcumin has “long been known to possess antimicrobial, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties” [Ref #12]. These properties have been used by some as an attempt to address and inhibit a number of diseases. More recently, studies have delved into the antibiofilm properties of curcumin and its ability to prevent the formation and growth of harmful biofilms in the body.
What are biofilms?
Biofilms are essentially a collection of microbial cells that are attached to a surface. This surface can be anything from living tissues to the surface of a water pipe. [Ref #1]
“Biofilms have great importance for public health because of their role in certain infectious diseases and importance in a variety of device-related infections. A greater understanding of biofilm processes should lead to novel, effective control strategies for biofilm control and a resulting improvement in patient management.” [Ref #1]
Finding ways to control the initial attachment and rapid growth of biofilms is an important issue. For more information on biofilms, see Busting Biofilms - Monolaurin and Biofilm Control
Curcumin
And Biofilms
Curcumin and biofilms
Curcumin possesses antimicrobial properties that inhibit the formation and growth of biofilms in the human system.
Curcumin and skin biofilms:
Preliminary research has been conducted into how curcumin can help inhibit skin conditions such as chronic wounds and acne vulgaris. The way curcumin does this is by destroying the bacterial membranes and disrupting the combination of these bacteria into a viable biofilm. [Ref #12]
“Hypothesized mechanisms of action include curcumin's ability to perturb bacterial membranes, disturb protofillament assembly, and even impair bacterial virulence factors.” [Ref #12]
Curcumin
Biofilm Studies
Curcumin and S. mutans
One of the earliest discoveries of biofilms was on the surface of teeth. Van Leeuwenhoek, the scientist recognized for the discovery of microbial biofilms, used a microscope to observe microorganisms on tooth surfaces. [Ref #1]
Cavities, caused by dental caries, and plaque are two of the most common dental diseases around the world. Streptococcus mutans, an acid-producing bacteria, will form a biofilm on the tooth along with food debris, other microorganisms, and salivary compounds. This biofilm, known as plaque, can eventually lead to tooth decay, when combined with certain carbohydrates, such as sugar. [Ref #2]
Curcumin has been found to help disrupt this damaging biofilm.
“Curcumin inhibited the quantity of live bacteria and total bacteria in both the short term (5 min) and the long term. Moreover, curcumin decreased the production of extracellular polysaccharide in the short term. The expression of genes related to extracellular polysaccharide synthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, adherence, and the two-component transduction system decreased after curcumin treatment. The chlorhexidine-treated group showed similar results. We speculate that curcumin has the capacity to be developed as an alternative agent with the potential to reduce the pathogenic traits of S. mutans biofilm.” [ Ref #5]
Research found that cells in a biofilm were surrounded by a polysaccharide casing. The research above demonstrates curcumin’s ability to decreases the production of extracellular polysaccharide, thereby inhibiting the microorganism’s combination into a biofilm. [Ref #1]
“These results indicated that curcumin is an S. mutans sortase A inhibitor and has promising anti-caries characteristics through an anti-adhesion-mediated mechanism.”[Ref #4]
Sortase A is an enzyme that is crucial for the formation of biofilms. It greatly influences the cariogenicity, or adhesive ability, of S. mutans on the tooth surface [Ref #4]. By inhibiting sortase A, curcumin reduces the adhesive properties of the S. mutans biofilm and disrupts its growth.
Curcumin and Acinetobacter baumannii
Acinetobacter baumannii is a bacterial pathogen. It primarily affects people who are already immunocompromised which is why it is most commonly found in hospital patients. It accounts for many dangerous infections including pneumonia, secondary meningitis, wound infections, bloodstream infections, and urinary tract infections [Ref #9]. The biofilm capabilities of this pathogen mean that it is resistant to antibiotics, making it more dangerous and difficult to eradicate.
“Acinetobacter baumannii is well adapted to hospital environments, and the persistence of its chronic infections is mainly due to its ability to form biofilms resistant to conventional antibiotics and host immune systems.” [Ref #9]
Studies have found that curcumin may have the potential to not only inhibit the formation of an A. baumannii biofilm, but to reduce the bacteria’s virulence as well.
“…the antibiofilm activity of curcumin (the most active flavonoid) was greater than that of the well-known biofilm inhibitor gallium nitrate. Curcumin inhibited pellicle formation and the surface motility of A. baumannii……In addition, curcumin treatment diminished A. baumannii virulence in an in vivo Caenorhabditis elegans model without cytotoxicity. The study shows curcumin and other flavonoids have potential for controlling biofilm formation by and the virulence of A. baumannii.” [Ref #9]
Curcumin and E coli
Escherichia coli, or E. coli, is a bacteria found in the digestive tract. Though not initially harmful, it can lead to infections. E. coli leads to a large number of UTIs in women and can be a dangerous foodborne pathogen in contaminated foods that have come in contact with bovines or bovine waste. Foodborne E. coli can be fatal [Ref #3]. Research has indicated that curcumin can inhibit E. coli biofilm formation by altering E. coli’s cell wall.
“Preliminary data indicates that curcumin imposes… morphological changes in E. coli cell wall which may possibly mediate the mechanism by which curcumin exerts its anti-biofilm activity. In addition, curcumin induced expression of oxidative stress related genes in E. coli, which may further imply on a possible mode of action.” [Ref #8]
Curcumin and Staphylococcus aureus
Staphylococcus aureus, commonly referred to as staph, is a type of germ that is fairly common. Though harmless in most cases, staph can lead to infections. Similar to A. baumannii, in a hospital environment, these infections are incredibly dangerous and can prove fatal. Common examples of these infections are pneumonia, sepsis, endocarditis (heart valve infection), or osteomyelitis (infection of the bone) [Ref #10]. Again, because of its biofilm capabilities, staphylococcus aureus is also typically resistant to antibiotics and immune defenses [Ref #7]. Research has shown that curcumin has the potential to help destroy the staph biofilm by damaging the membrane of staphylococcus aureus and could be developed into a useful antibiotic against staph infections.
“Preliminary data indicates that curcumin imposes membrane damage in S. aureus…” [ Ref #8]
A further study goes on to elaborate:
“Curcumin has been marketed globally as a health supplement mainly for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, it also has high potential to be developed into an antibiotic against S. aureus and other bacterial strains in the future.” [Ref #11]
Conclusion
Published research suggests curcumin from turmeric supports various health benefits from inhibiting skin infections to disrupting plaque on teeth. Perhaps its most impressive potential health benefits are its abilities as a biofilm buster, where it can act as a defense against the formation of various bacterial infections which can lead to serious disease.
Curcumin has a wide variety of potential health benefits, and its antibiofilm capabilities are just one example of its many uses. The compound is still being studied for more health benefits and is marketed widely as a health supplement for its antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. [Ref #11]
As with all supplements, curcumin should be taken by healthy individuals and under the supervision by a healthcare practitioner.
References
Donlan, R., et al. “Biofilms: Microbial Life on Surfaces.” Emerging Infectious Diseases, 2002.
Forssten, S., et al. “Streptococcus Mutans, Caries and Simulation Models.” Nutrients, 2010.
Guglietta, A. “Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections in Women: Risk Factors, Etiology, Pathogenesis and Prophylaxis.” Future Microbiology, 2017.
Hu, P., et al. “Curcumin Reduces Streptococcus Mutans Biofilm Formation by Inhibiting Sortase A Activity.” Archives of Oral Biology, 2013.
Li, B., et al. “Curcumin as a Promising Antibacterial Agent: Effects on Metabolism and Biofilm Formation in S. Mutans.” Biomed Research International, 2018.
Lim, JY, et al. “A Brief Overview of Escherichia Coli O157:H7 and Its Plasmid O157.” Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2010.
Lister, JL, et al. “Staphylococcus Aureus Biofilms: Recent Developments in Biofilm Dispersal.” Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 2014.
Moshe, M., et al. “Curcumin: a Natural Biofilm Agent.” Science and Technology Against Microbial Pathogens, 2011.
Raorane, C., et al. “Antibiofilm and Antivirulence Efficacies of Flavonoids and Curcumin Against Acinetobacter Baumannii.” Frontiers in Microbiology, 2019.
“Staphylococcus Aureus in Healthcare Settings.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011.
Teow, SY, et al. “Antibacterial Action of Curcumin against Staphylococcus Aureus: A Brief Review.” Journal of Tropical Medicine, 2016.
Vaughn, AR, et al. “Potential Role of Curcumin Against Biofilm-Producing Organisms on the Skin: A Review.” Phytotherapy Research: PTR, 2017.