The increased binding affinity of curcumin with human serum albumin in the presence of rutin and baicalin: A potential for drug delivery system

• The effects of rutin and baicalin on the interaction of curcumin with HSA were studied.
• The fluorescence quenching of HSA by curcumin is a combined quenching process.
• Flavonoids had no influence on the combined quenching mechanism.
• The binding affinity of curcumin with HSA was increased in the presence of flavonoids.
• Rutin/bacalin and curcumin may simultaneously bind in different regions of site I.

The impacts of rutin and baicalin on the interaction of curcumin (CU) with human serum albumin (HSA) were investigated by fluorescence and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopies under imitated physiological conditions. The results showed that the fluorescence quenching of HSA by CU was a simultaneous static and dynamic quenching process, irrespective of the presence or absence of flavonoids. The binding constants between CU and HSA in the absence and presence of rutin and baicalin were 2.268 × 105 M− 1, 3.062 × 105 M− 1, and 3.271 × 105 M− 1, indicating that the binding affinity was increased in the case of two flavonoids. Furthermore, the binding distance determined according to Förster's theory was decreased in the presence of flavonoids. Combined with the fact that flavonoids and CU have the same binding site (site I), it can be concluded that they may simultaneously bind in different regions in site I, and formed a ternary complex of flavonoid–HSA–CU. Meanwhile, the results of fluorescence quenching, CD and three-dimensional fluorescence spectra revealed that flavonoids further strengthened the microenvironmental and conformational changes of HSA induced by CU binding. Therefore, it is possible to develop a novel complex involving CU, flavonoid and HSA for CU delivery. The work may provide some valuable information in terms of improving the poor bioavailabiliy of CU.

The effects of rutin and baicalin on the binding of curcumin to human serum albumin (HSA) were investigated by fluorescence and circular dichroism spectroscopies. The results indicated that flavonoid and curcumin may simultaneously bind in different regions of site I and formed a ternary complex of flavonoid‐HSA‐curcumin.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide