Figure 1: Optimization of curcumin dose in hypoxia (7260 m for 6 h) exposed rats. (a) Edema index (b) Transvascular leakage. Curcumin was administered as prophylactic drug against HAPE. Rats were pretreated with curcumin with different doses viz. 25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg BW orally, 1 h prior to hypoxic exposure at 7620 m for 6 h. The optimum dose of curcumin was found to be 50 mg/kg BW, where the minimum lung vascular leakage was obtained and this dose was found to be significantly different from other doses tested. This indicates that the observed reduction in fluid efflux might be caused by the anti-inflammatory activity of curcumin. Values are mean ± SD (n=6). Significant difference between groups was determined by ANOVA followed by Student-Newman-Keul’s test. $P<0.001 compared with Normoxia group (0 h). *P<0.001 compared with Hypoxia group (6 h). #P<0.05 compared with hypoxia group (6 h), @P<0.01 compared with hypoxia (6 h)+25 mg Cur. N=Normoxia, H=Hypoxia, Cur=curcumin.