Research Article
Sreeraj Gopi, Robin George and
Abstract
Elastases are matrix degrading enzymes involved tissue homeostasis and are mainly produced by epithelial cells in the skin, lungs and neutrophils. Neutrophil-derived elastases play a major role in the regulation of vascular injury and inflammation, such as ischemia-reperfusion injury. The potential elastase inhibitors could severely as targets in anti inflammatory therapy. The other important target organ or elastases are the matrix proteins in the skin, which impart the structural and functional integrity to it. Curcumin, isolated from popular Indian spice Curcuma longa, could be a potential molecule for inhibiting the activity of elastases. The poor bio availability of curcumin was addressed and arrived at a bio available formulation – “cureit”. Its elastases inhibiting activity in human cell lines were described through this spectrophotometrical study and inferred that, “cureit” can inhibit elastases activity, in higher concentrations.