Figure 4: Protective efficacy of curcumin on (a) TNFα and (b) IL-6 content in BALF of rats exposed to hypobaric hypoxia at 7620 m for 6 h. It is noted that, hypoxia resulted into significant increase in proinflammatory cytokine molecules TNF-α and IL-6 in BALF, an indicative of the increased pulmonary inflammation. However, prior treatment of rats with curcumin and exposed to hypoxia resulted into significant decline in pulmonary inflammation in lungs. Values are mean ± SD (n=6). aP < 0.001 compared with Normoxia (0 h) group. bP < 0.05 compared with hypoxia (6 h) group. Nor=Normoxia, Hypo=Hypoxia, Cur=curcumin.