Abstract: OBJECTIVE To prepare the curcumin hydrogel and evaluate its therapeutic effect on rats with periodontitis. METHODS The curcumin hydrogel for periodontal pocket injection were prepared with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) as the absorption enhancer and poloxamer as the gel matrix. The relationship between viscosity and temperature of curcumin hydrogels was evaluated. Rats with periodontitis was established. Gingival index, bleeding index, bleeding on probing, probing depth, alveolar bone resorption, pathological section, prostaglandin E2(PGE2) and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) were used as the indicators to evaluate the therapeutic effect of curcumin hydrogels.RESULTS The viscosity of curcumin hydrogel was suitable for topical drug delivery. Compared with the model group and the blank hydrogel group, the inflammation degree and periodontal damage of periodontal tissues in the rats of the curcumin hydrogel group was less severe. In addition, periodontal adhesion level significantly decreased(P<0.01), and the levels of PGE2 and TNF-α in gingival tissues also decreased significantly(P<0.01). CONCLUSION The curcumin hydrogel is effective to treat rats periodontitis, and it is expected to become a novel formulation for periodontitis treatment.