ABSTRACT
Objective To demonstrate the therapeutic effect of curcumin hydrogel combined with photodynamics on acne. Methods Sieving and ultrasound/high pressure homogenization were used to prepare curcumin micropowder.Curcumin-loaded hydro?gel was prepared with Poloxamer 407 and its rheological characteristics were evaluated.The antibacterial activity of curcumin hydrogel irritated with 657 nm laser was assayed by a hole-punching method.Acne model on rabbit ears war established.Fifteen New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into five groups:the model group,tretinoin cream group,illumination group,curcumin hydrogel group,and curcumin hydrogel/illumination group.The therapeutic effects on acne were evaluated by the morphological and histopatho?logical examination.Results The micropowdered curcumin prepared with ultrasound/high pressure homogenization had smaller size and more uniform distribution(size range:5-20 μm.)than the sieving-prepared curcumin micro-powders(10-45 μm).The prepared hydrogels being a pseudoplastic fluid had the properties of gelatin.The antibacterial effect of curcumin hydrogel/illumination was bet?ter than that of curcumin hydrogel.The inhibition zone diameters were(9.4±0.92)and(12.57±1.12)mm for the curcumin hydrogel and the curcumin hadrogel/illumination groups,respectively.The therapeutic effect for the treatment of acne on the rabbit ears with ac?ne was better in the curcumin hydrogel/illumination group than in both the illumination and the curcumin hydrogel groups. Conclu?sion Curcumin hydrogel combined with photodynamic therapy showed better therapeutic efficacy on acne treatment.It provides an ideal choice for acne treatment.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect of curcumin in situ hydrogels for treatment of vaginal candidiasis. Methods In situ hydrogels were prepared using poloxamer 407 and 188 as the gel matrix.Gelation temperature,gelation time and rheological characteristics were determined.Mice models with vaginal candidiasis were established.The animals were divided into six groups:the healthy mice group,the model group,the positive control group(ketoconazole cream),curcumin-loaded in situ hydrogels of 0.025,0.10 and 0.20 g/ml.Before treatment and after the fourth and eighth treatments,the vaginal smears were collected and Gram-stained.The vagina washings fluid of mice were collected to determine DNA of Lactobacillus.On 8thday,the mice were sacrificed and the vaginal tissues were excised for pathological detection.Results The gelation temperature and time of in situ hydrogels were 29℃and 2′30″,respectively.Rheological profiles demonstrated that it showed good retention effect in vivo.Compared with the model group, curcumin hydrogels of 0.025,0.10 and 0.20 g/ml could inhibit the growth of Candida albicans,inhibit vaginal mucosal edema,inflam?matory hyperplasia,and decrease the expression of inflammatory factors including TNF-α(P<0.01)and IL-1β(P<0.01).Howev?er,curcumin hydrogels could not influence the growth of lactobacillus in the vagina.It indicated that curcumin hydrogels did not de?pend on lactobacillus to treat fungal vaginitis.Conclusion Curcumin in situ hydrogels could inhibit candidiasis growth,decrease ede?ma of vaginal mucosa and inflammatory hyperplasia,and reduce the expression of inflammatory factors.It provides a novel choice for the treatment of clinical vaginal candidiasis.