Abstract

Evaluation of the Effect of Curcumin Added to Standard Treatment on Outcomes in Patients with Mild to Moderate Covid- 19 Infection

Author(s): Manjusha Patankar, Pradyut Waghray and Kunal Waghray

Abstract

Background: SARS-CoV activates the immune cells to secrete inflammatory cytokines into pulmonary vascular endothelial cells. There is growing evidence on the inhibitory actions of curcumin on inflammatory cytokines

Methods and findings: 131 patients were enrolled in the retrospective study. Of these, 77 patients were given the test drug Curcumin and standard of care (SOC)  (Group1) and 54 patients were given SOC (Group 2). Parameters of assessment included change in markers of inflammation DIMER,  CRP, LDH , S. Ferritin and IL-6   as compared to baseline and symptom resolution.

Result: Group 1 had higher levels of – DIMER,  CRP,LDH  ,S. Ferritin and IL-6  at baseline. Yet, post treatment the curcumin treated patients had a significantly greater reduction in  inflammatory markers as compared to group 2. IL-6 levels  reduced significantly in both the groups (6.51 ± 3.93 at baseline   to 3.04 ± 1.05 in Curcumin group  versus 3.54 ± 1.71 at baseline to 2.23 ± 1.19; P<0.001 in the SOC group). Curcumin  treated patients had higher levels of markers of disease severity and had higher comorbidities.

Conclusion: Bioavailability enhanced curcumin added to standard treatment significantly lowered the biological markers of inflammation in mild to moderate COVID -19 patients with comorbidities and also reduced time to symptom resolution.