Erratum to effects of curcumin on Helicobacter pylori infection

Turmeric and curcumin as adjuncts in controlling Helicobacter pylori-associated diseases: a narrative review

Non-antibiotic adjuncts may improve Helicobacter pylori infection control. Our aim was to emphasize curcumin benefits in controlling H. pylori infection. We discussed publications in English mostly published since 2020 using keyword search. Curcumin is the main bioactive substance in turmeric. Curcumin inhibited H. pylori growth, urease activity, three cag genes, and biofilms through dose- and strain-dependent activities. Curcumin also displayed numerous anticancer activities such as apoptosis induction, anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic effects, caspase-3 upregulation, Bax protein enhancement, p53 gene activation, and chemosensitization. Supplementing triple regimens, the agent increased H. pylori eradication success in three Iranian studies. Bioavailability was improved by liposomal preparations, lipid conjugates, electrospray-encapsulation, and nano-complexation with proteins. The agent was safe at doses of 0.5->4 g daily, the most common (in 16% of the users) adverse effect being gastrointestinal upset. Notably, curcumin favorably influences the intestinal microbiota and inhibits Clostridioides difficile. Previous reports showed the inhibitory effect of curcumin on H pylori growth. Curcumin may become an additive in the therapy of H. pylori infection, an adjunct for gastric cancer control, and an agent beneficial to the intestinal microbiota. Further examination is necessary to determine its optimal dosage, synergy with antibiotics, supplementation to various eradication regimens, and prophylactic potential.

Effects of Curcumin and Its Analogues on Infectious Diseases

Infectious diseases (IDs) are life-threatening illnesses, which result from the spread of pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. IDs are a major challenge for the healthcare systems around the world, leading to a wide variety of clinical manifestations and complications. Despite the capability of frontline-approved medications to partially prevent or mitigate the invasion and subsequent damage of IDs to host tissues and cells, problems such as drug resistance, insufficient efficacy, unpleasant side effects, and high expenses stand in the way of their beneficial applications. One strategy is to evaluate currently explored and available bioactive compounds as possible anti-microbial agents. The natural polyphenol curcumin has been postulated to possess various properties including anti-microbial activities. Studies have shown that it possess pleiotropic effects against bacterial- and parasitic-associating IDs including drug-resistant strains. Curcumin can also potentiate the efficacy of available anti-bacterial and anti-parasitic drugs in a synergistic fashion. In this review, we summarize the findings of these studies along with reported controversies of native curcumin and its analogues, alone and in combination, toward its application in future studies as a natural anti-bacterial and anti-parasitic agent.