Effect of curcumin on Helicobacter pylori biofilm formation

Helicobacter pylori is a leading etiologic agent causing peptic ulcer and gastric cancer. The alternative lifestyle as a biofilm facilitates H. pylori to survive in adverse environments. Here, we investigated effect of curcumin on H. pylori biofilm formation both qualitatively by pellicle assay and quantitatively by crystal violet staining. Three-dimensional structure of biofilm was imaged by scanning electron microscopy. The effect of curcumin on H. pylori adherence to HEp-2 cells was also investigated. Sub-inhibitory concentrations of curcumin inhibited the biofilm in dose dependent manner. However, H. pylori could restore ability to form biofilm during extended time of incubation. Scanning electron microscopy revealed less amorphous extracellular polymeric matrix, slow of morphological conversion to coccoid form with cell damage after curcumin treatment. Curcumin significantly decreased the ability of H. pylori to adhere to the HEp-2 cells. Our findings demonstrated advantages of curcumin to inhibit biofilm formation by H. pylori, making it as a potential complimentary medicine for curing of H. pylori-biofilm related infections.