title: The effect of curcumin on corneal neovascularization in rabbit eyes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the anti-angiogenic effect of topical curcumin on corneal neovascularization in a rabbit model.
  
  
  METHODS
  One week after suturing, six eyes were treated with balanced salt solution (BSS) (group A), and six eyes were treated with curcumin 40, 80, or 160 micromol/L (groups B, C, and D, respectively), topically two times a day. After one week, light microscopy was used to analyze corneal neovascularization. The concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA in the corneal tissue was measured by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and the activation of NF-kappaB was examined by immunofluorescent staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven days after treatment, the sizes of the neovascularized areas were significantly reduced in groups B (50.1% +/- 6.7%), C (43.2% +/- 8.1%), and D (29.5% +/- 7.8%) compared with group A (69.5% +/- 1.5%) (p < 0.05). The corneal VEGF mRNA levels were significantly lower in groups C and D than they were in group A (p < 0.05). Immunofluorescent staining showed that phospho-NF-kappaB staining of the corneal tissue was weaker in group C than it was in groups A and B.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Topical application of curcumin was useful in reducing experimental corneal neovascularization and can be used to inhibit angiogenesis in the cornea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jung Sub
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jun Sub
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Sung Kun
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D016510:Corneal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D003474:Curcumin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D024581:Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (Phosphorylating) / Q000235:genetics; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D016328:NF-kappa B; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D024581:Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (Phosphorylating); D003474:Curcumin