Aim: to assess the ability of curcuminoid from Curcuma domestica Val in reducing the cycloxygenase-2 secretion by synovial fluid's monocytes compared to diclofenac sodium in patients with osteoarthritis.
Methods: this was a prospective randomized open end blinded evaluation (PROBE) study. The subjects were patients with knee osteoarthritis who were divided randomly into two groups, the first group received 30 mg 3 times daily of curcuminoid and the second group received 25 mg 3 times daily of diclofenac sodium. The joints aspiration was done and the secretion of cycloxygenase-2 enzyme by synovial fluid's monocytes was evaluated by scoring method before and after 4 weeks of treatments.
Results: a total of 80 patients with knee osteoarthritis were enrolled. In curcuminoid group the average scores were 1.84±0.37 and 1.15±0.28 respectively (p<0.001). In diclofenac group the average scores were 1.79±0.38 and 1.12±0.27 respectively (p<0.001). In curcuminoid group the decreasing score of cycloxygenase-2 secretion was 0.70±0.51 while in diclofenac group was 0.67±0.45. There was no significant difference in decreasing the score of cycloxygenase enzyme secretion between both treatment groups (p=0.89).
Conclusion: the ability of curcuminoid from Curcuma domestica Val. rhizome extract was not significantly different compared to diclofenac sodium in suppressing the secretion of cycloxygenase-2 enzyme by synovial fluid's monocytes.