title: Effect of curcumin on the expression of p53, transforming growth factor-β, and inducible nitric oxide synthase in oral submucous fibrosis: A pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the present study was to find out the expression of p53, transforming growth factor-β TGF-β), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF), proteins implicated in its pathophysiology, as well as malignant transformation. We also sought to determine the effect of curcumin on the expression of these markers through immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression of p53, TGF-β, and iNOS was evaluated through immunohistochemistry in 28 patients with OSMF before and after treatment with curcumin. Expression was evaluated semiquantitatively using a four-point scale based on the percentage of cells showing positive staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression of p53, TGF-β, and iNOS in OSMF was found to be statistically significant (P<.05). After therapy with curcumin, a decrease in the expression of p53, TGF-β, and iNOS was seen in 25%, 32.1%, and 32.1% of the samples, respectively; however, the difference in pretreatment and post-treatment expressions was not found to be statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present finding suggest that curcumin could have an effect on the expression of p53, iNOS, and TGF-β in OSMF, and thus, could prove to be an effective chemopreventive agent for its management. The increased expression of p53, TGF-β, and iNOS in OSMF is suggestive of the role of these markers in its pathophysiology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Shikha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Sujoy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Sunita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Puja
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sakhuja
mesh_terms: D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000187:drug effects*; D009914:Oral Submucous Fibrosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000187:drug effects*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D003474:Curcumin
keywords: inducible nitric oxide synthase; oral squamous cell carcinoma; oral submucous fibrosis; p53; transforming growth factor-β