Curcumin, also referred to as Zard chob in Unani medicine, is a bioactive polyphenolic compound derived from Curcuma longa. Historically held in high esteem for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and wound-healing activity, curcumin has been gaining more interest in contemporary ophthalmology for its therapeutic applications in ocular diseases.
This is a review on the use of curcumin in the management and treatment of ophthalmological conditions based on evidence from Unani classical sources as well as recent biomedical sources.
Electronic databases like PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus were used to perform a literature search. Experimental, clinical, and observational studies have been included that assess the efficacy of curcumin in ocular diseases in the review.
Curcumin has shown impressive therapeutic promise in the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis, dry eye syndrome, corneal ulcers, corneal neovascularization, pterygium, uveitis, glaucoma, cataract, Thyroid Eye Disease (TED), and retinal conditions like diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. Its therapeutic action is due to anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions, downregulation of proinflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-6, TNF-?), inhibition of angiogenic factors such as VEGF, and facilitation of neuroprotection. In spite of these encouraging effects, oral curcumin is plagued by low bioavailability and short metabolic half-life, which restricts its therapeutic use. Progress in drug delivery, including nano-formulations, phospholipid complexes, and hydrogels, has exhibited better results in preclinical and clinical environments.
Curcumin emerges as a safe, natural, and multifaceted adjunct or alternative treatment for various ophthalmic conditions. Its pharmacological properties validate traditional Unani applications, emphasizing the significance of blending traditional wisdom with contemporary science. Yet, additional large-scale, controlled clinical trials are necessary to determine standardized dosages, long-term safety, and efficacy, as well as optimization of delivery systems for efficient ocular use.