In Vivo synergistic effect of curcumin in combination with marbofloxacin against E coli infection in rats

Keywords This study aimed to evaluate the potential synergistic effect of curcumin in combination with marbofloxacin against E coli infection in rats. Twenty-five male rats were segregated equally into five groups of Wister albino rats; Group (1) acted as the control group (normal saline only, 0.2 ml); Group (2) was given E. Coli . Group (3) included rats infected with E. coli, and were administered an oral dose of marbofloxacin (5 mg/kg b.wt) for 5 days; Group (4) also administered the same oral dose of marbofloxacin daily for 5 days. . Group (5) rats were treated to E. coli by a single intraperitoneal injection of 2 ml of (1 × 10 9 ) of colony forming units/ml. Following that, rats were received oral dosages of both marbofloxacin and curcumin (20 mg/kg b.wt) Serum biochemical analysis revealed that in marbofloxacin treated group, albumin levels were significantly (P<0.05) decreased mean while transaminases (ALT and AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin, triglycerides, and cholesterol were significantly increased during marbofloxacin treatment. On the other hand, rats treated with marbofloxacin and curcumin showed noticeably decreased levels of triglycerides, cholesterol, and transaminases (ALT and AST), and significantly increased levels of albumin compared to rats that received marbofloxacin only. Histopathological examinations of liver tissue revealed severe liver damage in E.coli infected rats and counteracted by marbofloxacin and more treated through curcumin combination. In conclusion, the administration of curcumin in combination with marbofloxacin had a potential synergistic effect on the liver damage caused by E. coli infection in rats.