Curcumin Archives - World Asthma Foundation

Intranasal Curcumin Inhibits Pulmonary Fibrosis by Modulating Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in Ovalbumin-Induced Chronic Asthma.

Inflammation. 2016 Nov 19;

Authors: Chauhan PS, Dash D, Singh R

Abstract
Pulmonary fibrosis is associated with irreversible, or partially reversible, airflow obstruction and ultimately unresponsiveness to asthma therapies such as corticosteroids. Intranasal curcumin, an anti-inflammatory molecule, has been found effective in allergic asthma. To study the effect of intranasal curcumin on airway remodeling and fibrosis in murine model of chronic asthma, BALB/c mice were sensitized to ovalbumin (OVA) and exposed to OVA aerosol (2%) from day 21 (after sensitization) for 5 weeks (twice/week). Curcumin (intranasal) was administered during the OVA aerosol challenge. Mice exposed to OVA developed inflammation dominated by eosinophils which lead to fibrosis and airway remodeling. Intranasal administration of curcumin significantly inhibited airway inflammation and pulmonary fibrosis, where MMP-9 activities were decreased along with ?-smooth muscle actin (?-SMA), MMP-9, TIMP-1, and eotaxin expressions. These results suggest that intranasal curcumin regulates airway inflammation and remodeling in chronic asthma.

PMID: 27866296 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

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Curcumin suppresses ovalbumin-induced allergic conjunctivitis.

Mol Vis. 2012;18:1966-72

Authors: Chung SH, Choi SH, Choi JA, Chuck RS, Joo CK

Abstract
PURPOSE: Allergic conjunctivitis (AC) from an allergen-driven T helper 2 (Th2) response is characterized by conjunctival eosinophilic infiltration. Because curcumin has shown anti-allergic activity in an asthma and contact dermatitis laboratory models, we examined whether administration of curcumin could affect the severity of AC and modify the immune response to ovalbumin (OVA) allergen in an experimental AC model.
METHODS: Mice were challenged with two doses of topical OVA via the conjunctival sac after systemic sensitization with OVA in aluminum hydroxide (ALUM). Curcumin was administered 1 h before OVA challenge. Several indicators for allergy such as serum immunoglubulin E (IgE) antibodies production, eosinophil infiltration into the conjunctiva and Th2 cytokine production were evaluated in mice with or without curcumin treatment.
RESULTS: Mice challenged with OVA via the conjunctival sac following systemic sensitization with OVA in ALUM had severe AC. Curcumin administration markedly suppressed IgE-mediated and eosinophil-dependent conjunctival inflammation. In addition, mice administered curcumin had less interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-5 (IL-5) (Th2 type cytokine) production in conjunctiva, spleen, and cervical lymph nodes than mice in the non-curcumin-administered group. OVA challenge resulted in activation of the production of inducible nitric oxide (iNOS), and curcumin treatment inhibited iNOS production in the conjunctiva.
CONCLUSIONS: We believe our findings are the first to demonstrate that curcumin treatment suppresses allergic conjunctival inflammation in an experimental AC model.

PMID: 22876123 [PubMed – in process]

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