Antimicrobial Activity of Curcumin and Deuterated Curcumin

Abstract

Deuterium (D) and hydrogen (H) are bioisosteres because they are similar in size and shape with alike physiochemical properties and hence expect similar biological activity. The purpose of replacing H with D is to extend the time the active drug species spends in plasma, resulting in increased effectiveness and/or the avoidance of unwanted side effects. Deutetrabenazine was the first deuterated medicinal molecule, recently authorized by the FDA for the treatment of chorea “an involuntary movement disorder” associated with tardive dyskinesia and Huntington’s disease. Curcumin is found to have a long history of use in human disorders such as inflammation, metabolic syndrome, arthritis, anxiety, antimicrobial, hyperlipidemia, etc., Curcumin’s oral bioavailability and water solubility are low, resulting in poor absorption, rapid metabolism, and systemic elimination. To overcome curcumin’s drawbacks, H/D exchange was performed in curcumin, which was then characterized and tested for antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-tubercular activities. The deuterated compound showed equipotent antibacterial activity when compared with the non-deuterated compound and had better anti-fungal, anti-tubercular activity compared to its parent compound.