title: Effect of curcumin on radiation-impaired healing of excisional wounds in mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect on wound contraction of pretreatment with various doses of curcumin (the most important active ingredient of the spice turmeric) in mice exposed to 6 Gy whole-body gamma radiation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A full-thickness skin wound was produced on the dorsum of Swiss albino mice treated with and without 25, 50, 100, 150 or 200 mg/kg body weight of curcumin before exposure to 6 Gy gamma radiation. Progression of wound contraction was monitored using video images of the wound at various days post-irradiation until full healing occurred. Mean wound healing times were also calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Irradiation caused significant delay in wound contraction and healing times. However, treatment with curcumin resulted in a dose-dependent increase in contraction when compared with a control. Greatest contraction was observed for 100 mg/kg curcumin, with statistically significant results at days three (p < 0.009), six (p < 0.05) and nine (p < 0.05) post-irradiation for this dose. Complete healing was achieved by day 23 post-irradiation in the curcumin-treated irradiation group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pretreatment with curcumin has a conductive effect on irradiated wounds. It could be a substantial therapeutic agent for ameliorating radiation-induced delay in wound repair in cases of combined injuries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiobiology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India. gc.jagetia@kmc.manipal.edu
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Jagetia
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Rajanikant
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D013997:Time Factors; D014743:Videotape Recording; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000975:Antioxidants; D003474:Curcumin