Curcumin nanoparticles potentiate therapeutic effectiveness of acitrein in moderate-to-severe psoriasis patients and control serum cholesterol levels.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, nanoparticles of curcumin were developed and orally administered to moderate-to-severe psoriasis (Psoriasis Area Severity Index values, PASI > 10) patients, in a placebo controlled, double blind, randomised clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness.

METHODS: Diverse binary systems of curcumin and hydrophilic polymers were investigated to optimise solubility and stability in terms of curcumin residual content and size of the crystals. Nanocrystals of curcumin stabilised with PVP (1 : 0.5, w/w), were characterised using X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, TEM analyses and stability studies. The formulation was evaluated with a parallel artificial membrane permeability assay to predict the passive intestinal absorption. The first group of patients was treated orally with acitretin (0.4 mg/kg per day) plus nanocurcumin (3 g/day), the second group with acitretin, for 12 weeks.

KEY FINDINGS: Curcumin nanoparticles were homogeneous and stable systems. Curcumin permeability was significantly enhanced when compared with aqueous saturated solution of curcumin. The reduction in PASI was significantly higher in patients treated with curcumin (P < 0.0001) and cholesterol serum levels remained unchanged in patients treated with acitretin plus nanocurcumin.

CONCLUSIONS: Curcumin nanoparticles represent an effective adjuvant therapy in moderate-to-severe psoriasis patients treated with oral acitretin, improving their lipid serum profile.