Evaluation of Curcumin Effect on Wound Healing in Rat Model

Abstract

Background: skin wound healing consists of a series of meticulously orchestrated, time-dependent, complex steps including inflammation, proliferation, and wound remodeling. Wounds that do not follow this time course are complicated. Skin wounds and their complications impose a major threat to the patients and the health systems and are a heavy burden on the global economy. Many researchers have directed their attention to studying the wound healing properties of natural products because of their safety, accessibility, low price, and fewer side effects. One of these phytomedicines is Curcumin. The active constituent of Curcuma longa has been widely studied for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. The current study aims at exploring the wound healing properties of Curcumin in DMSO gel and comparing its effectiveness as a topical medicine to β-sitosterol ointment by using excisional full-thickness skin wounds in the rat model. Methods: After the initiation of a full-thickness 2 cm diameter wound at their dorsal skin, forty male rats were divided randomly into 4 equal groups: the positive control, the Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) gel, the β-sitosterol ointment, and the curcumin 4% gel groups. The groups were subdivided into A, and B subgroups and received their designed treatment for 7 and 14 days, respectively. Skin and blood samples were collected on the seventh and fourteenth days after wound initiation. Wound healing was evaluated by measuring the percentages of wound closure, the serum concentrations of IL-6, H/E staining for histopathological analysis, and the immunohistochemical assessment of MMP-9. Results: During both test intervals, the curcumin-treated group showed accelerated wound closure, lowered levels of IL-6, enhanced collagen deposition and epithelialization, and modulated scores of MMP-9 in comparison to the positive control, DMSO gel, and β-sitosterol ointment groups. Conclusions: Curcumin in DMSO gel significantly augmented wound healing by improving various parameters of the repair process. The 4% curcumin gel had a higher therapeutic wound healing potential compared to β-sitosterol ointment.