Nano-curcumin Effects on Ischemic Stroke Clinical Outcomes and Interleukin-6 Levels: Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial

Accumulation of inflammatory factors in the stroke area results in brain tissue damage and a patient’s disability. It has been demonstrated that curcumin has neuroprotective effects.

This study aims to evaluate the effects of nano-curcumin, a more stable and soluble form than the common curcumin, on the National Institutes of Health Stroke scale (NIHSS) and modified Rankin scale (mRS) scores and interleukin-6 (IL-6) serum levels in ischemic stroke patients.

Forty ischemic stroke patients were randomly divided into two groups of nano-curcumin and control, with 20 patients in each group. The curcumin group received nano-curcumin with a dose of 80 mg/d for one month, and the control group received placebo. Neurological disabilities were assessed by NIHSS and mRS over three time points. IL-6 serum levels were evaluated over two time points. Infarct area volume was evaluated in two time points.

NIHSS and mRS scores were significantly lower in the curcumin group than in the control group (P=0.038 and P<0.001, respectively). Serum levels of IL-6 were significantly lower in the curcumin group than in the controls (P<0.001). The cerebral infarct volume did not change significantly one week after the treatment with curcumin. 

Nano-curcumin improves the stroke clinical symptoms in ischemic stroke patients, as indicated by the reduction of NIHSS and mRS, in addition to a decrease in serum levels of IL-6.