Synergistic antibacterial activity of Curcumin with antibiotics against Staphylococcus aureus

Pak J Pharm Sci. 2015 Nov;28(6):2109-14.

Abstract

This study evaluated the synergistic antibacterial activity of Curcumin with 8 different antibiotic groups. Two reference, one clinical and ten environmental strains of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) were tested. Disc diffusion assay with 25 μg/mL Curcumin demonstrated synergism in combination with a majority of tested antibiotics against S. aureus. However, checkerboard micro dilution assay only showed synergism, fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) <0.5 in three antibiotics i.e. Gentamicin, Amikacin, and Ciprofloxacin. Other antibiotics showed indifferent interactions but no antagonism was observed. In time-kill curve, appreciable reduction of bacterial cells was also observed in combination therapy (Curcumin + antibiotics) compared to monotherapy (Curcumin or antibiotic(s) alone). The antibiotics with higher synergistic interaction with Curcumin are arranged in a decreasing order: Amikacin > Gentamicin > Ciprofloxacin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amikacin / pharmacology
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / isolation & purification
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Ciprofloxacin / pharmacology
  • Curcumin* / chemistry
  • Disk Diffusion Antimicrobial Tests
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Synergism
  • Gentamicins / pharmacology
  • Phytotherapy
  • Plant Extracts / isolation & purification
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Plants, Medicinal
  • Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / growth & development
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Gentamicins
  • Plant Extracts
  • Ciprofloxacin
  • Amikacin
  • Curcumin