Complexation of amphotericin B and curcumin with serum albumins: solubility and effect on erythrocyte membrane damage

Avinash K Kudva¹, MN Manoj², Bale M Swamy¹, Candadai S Ramadoss^3
1Department of Biochemistry, Karnatak University, Dharwad, India; ²Bigtec Labs, SID Entrepreneurship Centre, ³Unichem Laboratories Ltd, Biosciences R&D Centre, IISc campus, Bangalore, India

Abstract: Amphotericin and curcumin are known to form complexes with albumins individually. In-silico analysis shows that amphotericin B and curcumin have separate binding regions on human serum albumin and bovine serum albumin. The complex formed with albumin in the presence of both amphotericin and curcumin is water soluble, and it retains antifungal activity. Interestingly, it was found that the presence of curcumin in the complex significantly delayed the red cell lysis by amphotericin B, indicating the possibility of moderating the toxic side effects of the drug using curcumin. Furthermore, since the presumed ternary complex is stable and water soluble, its potential use in the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis (kala azar) and systemic fungal infections needs to be evaluated.

Keywords: hemolytic activity, antifungal activity