Topical application of curcumin was useful in reducing experimental corneal neovascularization and can be used to inhibit angiogenesis in the cornea. - GreenMedInfo Summary
The effect of curcumin on corneal neovascularization in rabbit eyes.
Curr Eye Res. 2010 Apr;35(4):274-80. PMID: 20373893
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
PURPOSE: To investigate the anti-angiogenic effect of topical curcumin on corneal neovascularization in a rabbit model.
MATERIALS AND 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.
