P183 Therapeutic Effects of Curcumin and Ginsenoside Combination in a Animal Model of Radiation Proctitis

Abstract Background Although various preventive and therapeutic modalities have been proposed to manage radiation-induced proctitis, there are no universally accepted preventive measures for effective treatment. This study aimed to investigate using an animal model whether the combination of curcumin and ginsenoside could be an effective treatment or preventive agent for progressive rectal inflammation caused by radiation. Methods C57BL/6 mice were exposed to gamma irradiation at 27 Gy (3 Gy/min) in the lower abdominal (rectal) region, establishing an animal model with acute radiation proctitis. A combination hydrogel containing 5 mM curcumin and 1 mM ginsenoside Rh1 was prepared and administered into the inflammed rectum of the murine model. This administration was repeated every 2 to 3 days after radiation exposure for a total of 6 times. Two weeks after radiation exposure, the mice were sacrificed to obtain the irradiated tissue samples. The histological and molecular evaluations were performed using H&E staining, Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) analysis, Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) staining, immunohistochemistry, and qPCR. Results The murine group treated with the combination hydrogel of curcumin and ginsenoside showed significant restoration of the damaged rectal mucosa induced by radiation, including recovery of the mucosal layer and villi, mitigation of epithelial loss, and repair of crypt damage, compared to control group. Additionally, at the cellular level, a comparative analysis of apoptosis and proliferation within the tissues through TUNEL and PCNA staining demonstrated the combination hydrogel not only significantly inhibited cell death but also significantly increased cell proliferation. The gene expression of inflammatory cytokines in rectal tissue, including IL-6 and IFN-γ was significantly decreased in the treatment group. The infiltration of immune cells including T cells (CD4) and macrophages (CD68), which are important components in the pathogenesis of radiation proctitis, as shown by immunohistochemistry of tissue samples, was significantly reduced in the treatment group compared to the control group. Conclusion These promising results suggest that the combination of curcumin and ginsenosides has therapeutic potential for the management of radiation proctitis and provide valuable insights into new therapeutic strategies in clinical applications.