Wounds are damage to normal structures of the skin, either closed or open ones. Based on healing duration, wounds are classified into acute and chronic wounds. Chronic wounds occur due to disrupted wound healing process and it takes longer to heal than the timeline. There are more than 5.7 million chronic wound patients in the US and it is estimated that the annual medical costs reaches US $20 billion. The cost is expected to increase significantly to US $24.8 billion by 2024. Therefore, proper wound healing is important in order to reduce costs and prevent chronic wounds. Povidone iodine is a common choice in wound management, but with an increased risk of wound exposure to bacterial infection, an alternative therapy is needed as wound management to avoid infection that prolongs the healing process. As an alternative, there are various kinds of natural ingredients in Indonesia with great potential for wound healing process.
Curcumin from turmeric extract (Curcuma longa) is known to have anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Furthermore, it also increases, granulation tissue formation, epithelial regeneration, and
angiogenesis when topically administered to wounds. To improve the effectiveness of wound healing, a combination of turmeric extract and carboxymethyl chitosan is needed. In the process of wound healing, carboxymethyl chitosan can stimulate cell proliferation, increase collagen formation, as well as accelerate regeneration and epithelialization of wound tissues. Along with current technological advances, the use of biopolymers is being researched and developed in the health industry. Hydrogel is a cross polymer network that is hydrophilic. The hydrogel application was chosen because it has several advantages including good water solubility, expansion ability, non-toxic, high bio-compatibility, and it gives cool sensation so it is comfortable during use, it prevents bacterial infection and accelerates the work of curcumin from turmetic ethanol extract with topical administration.
In this regard, David Setyo Budi under the guidance of Dr. Reny I`tishom, M.Si, dr. Alphania Rahniayu, Sp.PA and dr. Mohammad Fathul Qorib, Sp.KFR conducted a research on the potential of carboxymethyl chitosan hydrogel with turmeric ethanol extract as a new alternative treatment in wound care. This research used an experimental method through testing on experimental animals (in vivo study) with “post test only control group design” approach. The positive control group was treated with tulle and povidone iodine, the negative control was treated with sterile aqua. Meanwhile, the treatment group was given carboxymethyl chitosan hydrogel with turmeric ethanol extract at different doses: 1%, 2% and 3%. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 22. Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD). After that, a statistical ANOVA test was performed followed by a Post Hoc LSD test to determine the effect of the therapy. Significance was shown at p ≤ 0.05.
One of the important conclusions obtained in this study is that the treatment group given carboxymethyl chitosan hydrogel with turmeric ethanol extract had the ability to accelerate the length of wound closure process with statistically significant results compared to the control group. Wound closure is the final stage of complex wound healing. This stage is influenced by previous phases; the inflammation and proliferation phase. In the process of reducing wound length, the treatment group could accelerate healing because of the combined effect on each phase of wound healing by accelerating the inflammatory phase, helping in the proliferation phase, and playing a role by increasing MMP and inhibits TGF in remodeling. However, it is necessary to carry out further analysis regarding the optimum topical dosage, specific immunological response from the material, and the long-term effects of its administration.
Authors: David Setyo Budi, Reny I’tishom, Alphania Rahniayu, Mohammad Fathul Qorib
Details of the research can be viewed in Indian journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology
The title and link of research:
Title : The Effects of Turmeric Extract (Curcuma longa) Loaded Hidrogels in Accelerating Wound Closure
Link : medicopublication.com/index.php/ijfmt/article/view/14699
