Curcumin suppression of cytokine release and cytokine storm. A potential therapy for patients with Ebola and other severe viral infections

Abstract

Background: The terminal stage of Ebola and other viral diseases is often the onset of a cytokine storm, the massive overproduction of cytokines by the body's immune system.

Materials and methods: The actions of curcumin in suppressing cytokine release and cytokine storm are discussed.

Results: Curcumin blocks cytokine release, most importantly the key pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-1, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α. The suppression of cytokine release by curcumin correlates with clinical improvement in experimental models of disease conditions where a cytokine storm plays a significant role in mortality.

Conclusion: The use of curcumin should be investigated in patients with Ebola and cytokine storm. Intravenous formulations may allow achievement of therapeutic blood levels of curcumin.

Keywords: Curcumin; Ebola; cytokine storm; interleukin-1; interleukin-6; review; tumor necrosis factor-α.