ackground Adhesion band formation is a common cause of morbidity for patients undergoing surgeries. Antiinfammatory and anti-fbrotic properties of curcumin, a pharmacologically active component of Curcuma longa, have been investigated in several studies. The aim of this study is to explore the therapeutic potential of curcumin in attenuating post-operative adhesion band (PSAB) formation in both peritoneal and peritendinous surgeries in animal models. Methods Bio-mechanical, histological and quantitative evaluation of infammation, and total fbrosis scores were graded and measured in the presence and absence of phytosomal curcumin. Results Results showed that phytosomal curcumin signifcantly decreased severity, length, density and tolerance of mobility of peritendinous adhesions as well as incidence and severity of abdominal fbrotic bands post-surgery. Curcumin may decrease infammation by attenuating recruitment of infammatory cells and regulating oxidant/antioxidant balance in post-operative tissue samples. Moreover, markedly lower fbrosis scores were obtained in the adhe‑ sive tissues of phytosomal curcumin-treated groups which correlated with a signifcant decrease in quantity, quality and grading of fbers, and collagen deposition in animal models. Conclusion These results suggest that protective efects of phytosomal curcumin against PSAB formation is partially mediated by decreasing infammation and fbrosis at site of surgery. Further studies are needed to investigate the therapeutic potential of this molecule in preventing PSAB.
