Effects of liposomal-curcumin on five opportunistic bacterial strains found in the equine hindgut – preliminary study.
Abstract: The horse intestinal tract is sensitive and contains a highly complex microbial population. A shift in the microbial population can lead to various issues such as inflammation and colic. The use of nutraceuticals in the equine industry is on the rise and curcumin is thought to possess antimicrobial properties that may help to minimize the proliferation of opportunistic bacteria. Methods: Four cecally-cannulated horses were utilized to determine the optimal dose of liposomal-curcumin (LIPC) on reducing complex (SBEC), K-12, general, , and in the equine hindgut without adversely affecting cecal characteristics. In the first study cecal fluid was collected from each horse and composited for an in vitro 24 h batch culture to examine LIPC at four different dosages (15, 20, 25, and 30 g) in a completely randomized design. A subsequent in vivo 4 × 4 Latin square design study was conducted to evaluate no LIPC (control, CON) or LIPC dosed at 15, 25, and 35 g per day (dosages determined from in vitro results) for 9 days on the efficacy of LIPC on selected bacterial strains, pH, and volatile fatty acids. Each period was 14 days with 9 d for acclimation and 5 d withdrawal period. Results: In the in vitro study dosage had no effect ( ≥ 0.42) on strains, but as the dose increased SBEC concentrations increased ( = 0.001). Concentrations of the strain varied with dose. In vivo, LIPC's antimicrobial properties, at 15 g, significantly decreased ( = 0.02) SBEC when compared to 25 and 35 g dosages. decreased linearly ( = 0.03) as LIPC dose increased. Butyrate decreased linearly ( = 0.01) as LIPC dose increased. Conclusions: Further studies should be conducted with a longer dosing period to examine the antimicrobial properties of curcumin without adversely affecting cecal characteristics.
Publication Date: 2017-06-12 PubMed ID: 28638626PubMed Central: PMC5473976DOI: 10.1186/s40781-017-0138-4Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This study explored how different doses of liposomal-curcumin, a type of nutraceutical, affect certain bacterial strains, pH, and fatty acids in the hindgut of horses. The research results suggest that while certain bacteria were not notably affected by the treatment, other types showed changes, deserving further investigation for longer dosing periods.
Research Purpose and Methods
- The primary aim of this study was to gauge the effect of liposomal-curcumin (LIPC), a type of nutraceutical, on five specific opportunistic bacterial strains found in the equine hindgut. A secondary aim was to pinpoint the ideal dosage of LIPC that can minimize the proliferation of these bacteria without adversely impacting the horse’s cecal (part of the large intestine) characteristics like pH or levels of certain volatile fatty acids.
- The research included initial in vitro (laboratory-based) tests, which involved 24-hour batch cultures of cecal fluid from four horses, each tested at four different LIPC dosages (15, 20, 25, and 30 grams). This design was completely randomized.
- This was followed by an in vivo (within the living organism) study using a 4×4 Latin square design. The four horses were tested under four conditions: no LIPC (control), and three specific doses of LIPC (15, 25, and 35 grams per day). The dosage selection was determined from the in vitro results. The test was done over nine days within a 14-day period (further split into 9 days for acclimation and a 5-day withdrawal period).
Major Findings
- Contrary to the expectations, the in vitro results showed that not all bacterial strains responded to LIPC. Increasing the dosage resulted in higher concentrations of Streptococcus bovis/equinus complex (SBEC), while effects on another strain E.coli K-12 varied.
- When the horses were directly dosed with LIPC, its antimicrobial properties became evident. Notably, a 15-gram dose significantly decreased SBEC, showing more effect than the 25 and 35-gram doses. Another bacteria type, likely another variant of E.coli, decreased as LIPC dose was increased.
- There were also changes in volatile fatty acids, specifically butyrate, which decreased linearly as LIPC dose was scaled up.
Conclusions and Implications for Future Research
- To understand the long-term effects and the ideal dosage of liposomal-curcumin, researchers suggested that future studies should be done over a longer dosing period.
- Note that these findings are preliminary and further research is required to explore the antimicrobial properties of curcumin, specifically its ability to deal with opportunistic bacteria in the equine hindgut without adversely affecting the animal’s cecal characteristics.
Cite This Article
APA
Bland SD, Venable EB, McPherson JL, Atkinson RL.
(2017).
Effects of liposomal-curcumin on five opportunistic bacterial strains found in the equine hindgut – preliminary study.
J Anim Sci Technol, 59, 15.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40781-017-0138-4 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Science, Food & Nutrition, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901 USA.
- Department of Animal Science, Food & Nutrition, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901 USA.
- Department of Animal Science, Food & Nutrition, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901 USA.
- Department of Animal Science, Food & Nutrition, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901 USA.
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Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Gkartziou F, Giormezis N, Spiliopoulou I, Antimisiaris SG. Nanobiosystems for Antimicrobial Drug-Resistant Infections. Nanomaterials (Basel) 2021 Apr 22;11(5).
- Park S, Lee J, Park G, Song D, Chang S, An J, Jeon K, Kim H, Lim Y, Kim J, Ahn K, Choi J, Cho J. Effects of pollen patties with curcumin-steviol glycoside complex on Apis mellifera. J Anim Sci Technol 2025 Mar;67(2):361-374.
- Darvishi M, Rafsanjani SMRH, Nouri M, Abbaszadeh S, Heidari-Soureshjani S, Kasiri K, Rahimian G. Biological Mechanisms of Polyphenols against Clostridium Difficile: A Systematic Review. Infect Disord Drug Targets 2025;25(3):e18715265313944.
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