Curcumin enhances wound healing in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats and genetically diabetic mice

Abstract

Tissue repair and wound healing are complex processes that involve inflammation, granulation and tissue remodeling. Interactions of different cells, extracellular matrix proteins and their receptors are involved in wound healing, and are mediated by cytokines and growth factors. Previous studies from our laboratory have shown that curcumin (diferuloylmethane), a natural product obtained from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa, enhanced cutaneous wound healing in rats and guinea pigs. In this study, we have evaluated the efficacy of curcumin treatment by oral and topical applications on impaired wound healing in diabetic rats and genetically diabetic mice using a full thickness cutaneous punch wound model. Wounds of animals treated with curcumin showed earlier re-epithelialization, improved neovascularization, increased migration of various cells including dermal myofibroblasts, fibroblasts, and macrophages into the wound bed, and a higher collagen content. Immunohistochemical localization showed an increase in transforming growth factor-beta1 in curcumin-treated wounds compared to controls. Enhanced transforming growth factor-beta1 mRNA expression in treated wounds was confirmed by in situ hybridization, and laser scan cytometry. A delay in the apoptosis patterns was seen in diabetic wounds compared to curcumin treated wounds as shown by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridyl triphosphate nick end labeling analysis. Curcumin was effective both orally and topically. These results show that curcumin enhanced wound repair in diabetic impaired healing, and could be developed as a pharmacological agent in such clinical settings.

Wound healing by marigold (Calendula officinalis) and turmeric (Curcuma longa) Paste: A comparative approach

“…Moreover, proliferation of fibrous connective tissue was observed notably in wounds of turmeric group at day 3 (D3). This result upholds the finding of Sidhu et al (1999). It may be due to the anti-inflammatory ability of marigold flower (Hamburger et al, 2003) and turmeric (Aggarwal et al, 2003) respectively.…”

Curcumin Enhanced Cutaneous Wound Healing by Modulating Cytokines and Transforming Growth Factor in Excision Wound Model in Rats

“…A therapeutic agent selected for the treatment of wounds should ideally improve one or more phases of healing without producing deleterious side effects. Curcumin, an important active principle of turmeric (Curcuma longa), has been proved to promote wound healing in various wound models (Sidhu et al, 1998(Sidhu et al, , 1999. In this study, the per cent contraction of wound was significantly higher in treated animals which are in agreement with other previous workers.…”

“…5) wounds favours more collagen synthesis, well formed granulation tissue and blood vessels in the treated samples. Sidhu et al, 1999, had also reported that the curcumin treatment led to an increased formation of granulation tissue including greater cellular content, neovascularization and a faster reepithelialization of wound in both diabetic as well as hydrocortisone impaired wounds by regulating the expression of TGF-β1, its receptors and nitric oxide synthase during wound healing .…”

“…Local application of turmeric is a household remedy in India for several conditions such as, skin diseases, insect bites and chicken pox (Nandkarni, 1976). Various studies reveals that curcumin plays important role in formation of granulation tissue, neovascularization and a faster reepithelialization of wound in both diabetic as well as hydrocortisone impaired wounds (Sidhu et al, 1999). Curcumin scavenges the free radical effectively and reduces the oxidative stress.…”

Wound Healing and Antibacterial Properties of Leaf Essential Oil of Vitex simplicifolia Oliv. from Burkina Faso

“…These processes aim to ensure the regeneration www.intechopen.com and reconstruction of anatomical and functional disturbances of the skin [Chattopadhyay et al, 2002]. The repair of damaged tissues occurs as a sequence of events that included inflammation, proliferation and migration of different cell types [Sidhu et al, 1999]. At the dose of 0.44 mg used only once the essential oil healed wounds for 96h.…”