The effect of curcumin on healing in an animal nasal septal perforation model.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: We investigated the effect of intranasal topical curcumin on nasal septum mucosa wound healing in a nasal septal perforation model produced in rabbits. STUDY DESIGN: Experimental study. METHODS: Fourteen male New Zealand rabbits were included in the study. For each rabbit, 5-mm-diameter circular perforations were created at 5 mm away from the columella to the nasal septum. Curcumin (study group) and saline (control group) were administered intranasally once daily for 10 days. At the end of the 10th day, the animals were sacrificed and the nasal septum specimens were sent for histological examination. Epithelial regeneration and degeneration, cartilage degeneration and regeneration, presences of fibroblast, eosinophil, acute/chronic inflammatory and giant cells, capillary density, amounts of granulation tissue and collagen, and macroscopic closure rate of perforation parameters were compared in each group. RESULTS: Epithelial and cartilage regeneration, and the amounts of collagen and granulation tissue were significantly higher in the curcumin group compared to the control group (P < .05). No statistically significant difference was found in comparison of other parameters (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Topical application of curcumin improves the wound-healing process of nasal septum perforation in the animal model. Therefore, curcumin can be used as a safe and effective medical agent to prevent the development of septal perforation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE NA Laryngoscope, 129E349-E354, 2019.