The Effect of Curcumin on Corneal Neovascularization in Rabbit Eyes

Abstract

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 μmol/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.

KEYWORDS::

• Cornea
• Curcumin
• Neovascularization
• NF-kappaB
• VEGF

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.