Comparative growth patterns of cultures containing curcumin pre-treated and non pre-treated host erythrocytes.

<p>For pre-treatment, erythrocytes were incubated with 5 µM curcumin for 48 h and then mixed with parasite-infected untreated erythrocytes to a final parasitemia of 0.5% and final hematocrit of 3%. In no pre-treatment cultures, erythrocytes were not given any pre-treatment with curcumin. No drug control parasite culture with no drug. Error bars represent standard error of the mean (n = 4).</p

Predictive binding of curcumin, colchicine, paclitaxel and vinblastine to <i>P. falciparum</i> tubulin dimer.

<p>Figures showing bound poses of curcumin diketo form at the interface of tubulin dimer. <i>P. falciparum</i> tubulin is represented as dimer of alpha (yellow) and beta (green) subunit. Panel A shows all the predicted bound poses, mostly at the interface of the dimer. Panel B shows the most probable binding pose according to Autodock (Rank 1) with the curcumin diketo form at the interface of alpha and beta tubulin monomers. Panel C shows binding sites of colchicine (purple), paclitaxel (red) and vinblastine (brown) on parasite tubulin dimer.</p

Curcumin uptake by parasitised (IE) and uninfected erythrocytes (E) during first and second cycle of <i>P. falciparum</i> growth.

<p>Error bars represent standard error of the mean (n = 3).</p

Sensitivity assays with curcumin in combination with colchicine, paclitaxel and vinblastine and all the drugs individually.

<p>Panels A and B represent growth patterns of parasites subjected to curcumin and colchine individually and in combination, for 48 hours and for 96 hours respectively. Panels C and D represent same scenario for curcumin and paclitaxel treated parasites while panels E and F represent curcumin and vinblastine treated parasites. Concentrations of individual drugs used in the combinations are included for each data point. Error bars represent standard error of the mean (n = 4).</p

Proportion of total parasite cells observed with spindle and subpellicular microtubules in control and treated parasite population.

<p>Proportion of total parasite cells observed with spindle and subpellicular microtubules in control and treated parasite population.</p

Inhibitory effect of curcumin on <i>P. falciparum</i> growth.

<p>Control = no drug administered. Solvent control, DMSO = 0.1% (v/v) DMSO. Parasitemia was determined by light microscopy of Giemsa stained blood smears. Error bars represent standard error of the mean (n = 4).</p

Predicted curcumin and colchicine binding residues in modeled <i>P. falciparum</i> tubulin dimer.

<p>Predicted curcumin and colchicine binding residues in modeled <i>P. falciparum</i> tubulin dimer.</p