title: Effects of curcumin and capsaicin irradiated with visible light on murine oral mucosa.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the histopathological effects of curcumin and capsaicin, with or without visible light (VL) irradiation for 5 min, on the oral mucous membrane in mice. Capsaicin-treated, but not curcumin-treated, buccal epithelium exhibited slight tissue damage; VL irradiation caused excessive tissue damage, particularly when combined with the former treatment. The TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling (TUNEL) method demonstrated that both capsaicin and curcumin induced apoptosis, with the apoptotic effect of capsaicin appearing at an early stage of application. VL irradiation increased the number of apoptotic cells, particularly those upon in the capsaicin-treated area. Capsaicin and curcumin acted as photosensitizers exposure to VL, in the presence of oxygen. Curcumin and capsaicin with VL irradiation could thus be used for photodynamic therapy in the clinical setting, especially in precancerous oral diseases.
authors.affiliation: Division of Oral Diagnosis, Department of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Science, Meikai University School of Dentistry, Sakado, Saitama, Japan. okada@dent.meikai.ac.jp
authors.forename: Norihisa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: Eitoku
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Muraoka
authors.forename: Seiichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fujisawa
authors.forename: Mamoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Machino
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D003474:Curcumin; D002211:Capsaicin