Volume 116, Issue 1, 22 October 2014, Pages 1–7
Review article
Curcumin as a wound healing agent
- doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2014.08.016
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Abstract
Turmeric (Curcuma longa)
is a popular Indian spice that has been used for centuries in herbal
medicines for the treatment of a variety of ailments such as rheumatism,
diabetic ulcers, anorexia, cough and sinusitis. Curcumin
(diferuloylmethane) is the main curcuminoid present in turmeric and
responsible for its yellow color. Curcumin has been shown to possess
significant anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-carcinogenic,
anti-mutagenic, anti-coagulant and anti-infective effects. Curcumin has
also been shown to have significant wound healing properties. It acts on
various stages of the natural wound healing process to hasten healing.
This review summarizes and discusses recently published papers on the
effects of curcumin on skin wound healing. The highlighted studies in
the review provide evidence of the ability of curcumin to reduce the
body's natural response to cutaneous wounds such as inflammation and
oxidation. The recent literature on the wound healing properties of
curcumin also provides evidence for its ability to enhance granulation
tissue formation, collagen deposition, tissue remodeling and wound
contraction. It has become evident that optimizing the topical
application of curcumin through altering its formulation is essential to
ensure the maximum therapeutical effects of curcumin on skin wounds.
Graphical abstract
Keywords
- Curcumin;
- Turmeric;
- Topical administration;
- Nanoparticle;
- Wound healing;
- Skin regeneration
Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
