Introduction: Wound healing is a highly complicated event attained through precisely programmed phases. Curcumin was used as a flavoring and coloring agent. It also exhibited remarkable properties in medicinal therapy.
Aim: This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of curcumin on healing of induced palatal ulcer in a rat model.
Material & Methods: Thirty six male Albino rats were divided into three groups. Group I (Control group): rats were given the vehicle solution. Group II (ulcer induced group): ulcers were created on the hard palatal mucosa of rats of this group. Group III (curcumin & ulcer induced group): ulcers were induced then rats were daily given 200mg/kg of curcumin starting from the day of ulceration. The animals were sacrificed such that two rats from the control group and five rats from the experimental groups were sacrificed after three, six and twelve days post ulceration. Specimens were prepared for histological examination and scanning electron microscopic assessment.
Results: Histological examination revealed better enhancement of ulcer healing and epithelization together with establishment of more dense collagen bundles in group III samples when compared to group II throughout the examined experimental periods. Scanning electron microscopic results supported the histological findings showing significant reduction of the ulcer size in
group III specimens.
Conclusion: oral administration of curcumin has beneficial effects in accelerating wound healing and improving all phases of wound repair of palatal ulcer in rats.