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. 2019 Oct;71(5):963-976.
doi: 10.1007/s10616-019-00338-x. Epub 2019 Sep 5.

Curcumin and capsaicin modulates LPS induced expression of COX-2, IL-6 and TGF-β in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Thriveni Vasanthkumar  1   2 , Manjunatha Hanumanthappa  3   4 , Rangaswamy Lakshminarayana  5
Affiliations

Curcumin and capsaicin modulates LPS induced expression of COX-2, IL-6 and TGF-β in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Thriveni Vasanthkumar et al. Cytotechnology. 2019 Oct.

Abstract

The mechanism of action of treatment of either curcumin or capsaicin or in combination on LPS (Lipopolysaccharide) induced inflammatory gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was investigated using RT-PCR and in silico docking methods. RT-PCR analysis has shown that the curcumin and capsaicin significantly reduced LPS induced over expression of COX-2, IL-6 and TGF-β in PBMCs. Whereas combined molecules demonstrated synergistic response on the reduction of COX-2, IL-6 and TGF-β over expression in LPS induced PBMCs as compared to individual molecules. Further, The docking of curcumin and capsaicin at the active pockets of COX-2, IL-6 and TGF-β has shown - 3.90, - 4.49 and - 5.61 kcal/mol binding energy for curcumin and - 3.80, - 4.78 and - 5.76 kcal/mol binding energy for capsaicin, while multiple ligand simultaneous docking (MLSD) of both molecules has shown higher binding energy of - 4.24, - 5.35 and - 5.83 kcal/mol respectively. This has demonstrated the efficacy of combined curcumin and capsaicin against the LPS induced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in PBMCs. These results attributed the coordinated positive modulation on biochemical and molecular cellular process by combined curcumin and capsaicin as compared to individual molecules.

Keywords: Capsaicin; Curcumin; MLSD; PBMC cells; Proinflammatory cytokine.

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Conflict of interest statement

Authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Effect of LPS on production of NO in PBMCs pre-treated either with or without (control) curcumin or capsaicin or combination of them. Values are expressed as Mean ± SEM (n = 3). Significant difference *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 and ***p < 0.001 when compared with LPS-induced group (positive control)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Influence of curcumin and capsaicin, and their combination on attenuation of LPS-induced expression of COX-2, IL-6 and TGF-β in PBMCs. COX-2, IL-6 and TGF-β mRNA levels were measured by RT-PCR. COX-2, IL-6 and TGF-β mRNA in LPS alone treated cells was set as 100%. Values are expressed as Mean ± SEM (n = 3). Significant difference *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 and ***p < 0.001 when compared with LPS-induced group (positive control)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Structure and physico-chemical properties of ligands A curcumin and B capsaicin
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
A Docking of curcumin at the active pocket of COX-2, B 2D representation of the interaction of curcumin with COX-2
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
A Docking of capsaicin at the active pocket of COX-2, B 2D representation of the interaction of capsaicin with COX-2
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
A Docking of curcumin at the active pocket of IL-6, B 2D representation of the interaction of curcumin with IL-6
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
A Docking of capsaicin at the active pocket of IL-6, B 2D representation of the interaction of capsaicin with IL-6
Fig. 8
Fig. 8
A Docking of curcumin at the active pocket of TGF-β, B 2D representation of the interaction of curcumin with TGF-β
Fig. 9
Fig. 9
A Docking of capsaicin at the active pocket of TGF-β, B 2D representation of the interaction of capsaicin with TGF-β
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