Curcumin and Ginger Extract Improves Abrasion Wound Healing in Damaged Skin

Abstract

Topical treatment of hairless rats with curcumin and a ginger extract led to increased collagen production and decreased expression of MMP‐9 in treated skin. Rats were pre‐treated topically (21 days) with the botanical preparation followed by a combination of botanicals and Temovate (corticosteroid) for an additional 15 days. Superficial abrasion wounds healed more slowly in the skin of Temovate‐treated rats than in skin of control animals. Healing was more rapid in skin of rats that had been pre‐treated with the curcumin ‐ ginger extract (plus Temovate) than in the skin of rats treated with Temovate and vehicle alone. Each of the botanicals alone also improved wound healing but the individual agents were not as effective as the combined preparation. Dermal punch biopsies were obtained at the time of wound closure. Collagen production was increased and MMP‐9 production was decreased in the recently‐healed skin from rats treated with the botanical preparation relative to rats treated with Temovate plus vehicle. Neither of the botanical treatments alone or in combination caused skin irritation during the treatment phase or during wounding and repair. Taken together, these data suggest that a combination of curcumin and ginger extracts might provide a novel approach to improving structure and dermal function often seen in non‐healing wounds. Work supported by NIH HL07097