Antibacterial activity of indium curcumin and indium diacetylcurcumin

Abstract

Studies on curcumin, the principal element of turmeric powder, have demonstrated several biological
\nactions such as antibacterial activity. Evaluation of new analogs or new compounds of curcumin for their
\nantibacterial effect is interesting for researchers. In this in vitro study, we attempted to test the
\nantibacterial activity of indium curcumin (In(CUR)3), indium diacetylcurcumin (In(DAC)3), and
\ndiacetylcurcumin (DAC) in comparison with curcumin. The action of these agents were examined on
\nStaphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Staphylococcus epidermidis (ATCC 14990), Pseudomonas
\naeruginosa (ATCC 27853), and Escerichia coli (ATCC 25922). Curcumin was effective against S. aureus
\nand S. epidermidis, whereas In(DAC)3 showed activity against S. epidermidis and P. aeruginosa. The
\neffect of In(DAC)3 on P. aeruginosa is an advantage. Strikingly, In(CUR)3 exhibited antibacterial activity
\non all the four mentioned strains. DAC did not show antibacterial effect on any of the four test bacteria.
\nThe minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of curcumin was 187.5 μg/ml for S. aureus, and 46.9 μg/ml
\nfor S. epidermidis. However, the MIC of In(CUR)3 was lower for the same bacterial strains (93.8 μg/ml for
\nS.aureus and 23.4 μg/ml for S. epidermidis). Therefore, In(CUR)3 was found to have more antibacterial
\neffect than curcumin itself and could be a suitable candidate for further in vivo investigations.