A compound present in the curry spice turmeric may help to speed wound healing, say researchers from Singapore. Laboratory tests on curcumin revealed that the compound minimized damage to human skin cells caused by the potent oxidizing agent hydrogen peroxide. Such results indicate that curcumin acts as an antioxidant, a finding that may help to explain why the compound appears to promote wound healing. Study leader Dr Toan-Thang Phan believes that curcumin could be useful for the treatment of acute and chronic wounds, and could possibly become a registered drug. Curcumin has been used in Asian folk medicine for the treatment of wounds and ulcers for hundreds of years.
SOURCE/REFERENCE: The Journal of Trauma 2001; 51:927-931
