Albumin–quercetin combination offers a therapeutic advantage in the prevention of reduced survival of erythrocytes in visceral leishmaniasis

Visceral leishmaniasis is associated with the reduced survival of erythrocytes, the cause of which remains to be fully explored. Here, we described the mechanism underlying the shortened lifespan of erythrocytes in visceral leishmaniasis and proposed a combination therapy with quercetin and hamster serum albumin towards its rectification. Decreased redox potential in erythrocytes followed by oxidative denaturation of hemoglobin and pathologic association of iron with the cell membrane facilitated premature hemolysis during leishmanial infection. Recently, we have reported the therapeutic efficacy of quercetin in arresting the enhanced destruction of erythrocytes in visceral leishmaniasis. Since serum albumin, the principal carrier protein for quercetin gets depleted in visceral leishmaniasis, the situation may compromise the efficacy of quercetin in this disease. We now report the use of quercetin–hamster serum albumin combination to increase the bioavailability of quercetin. The combination targeted hemoglobin oxidation and produced an effective attenuation of heme degradation. This led to decreased iron decompartmentalization, thereby increasing the life span of erythrocytes during leishmanial infection. Thus, we speculate that suppression of iron decompartmentalization, with the combination of quercetin and serum albumin might be a new approach in the prevention of reduced survival of erythrocytes in visceral leishmaniasis.