Treatment with curcumin significantly suppressed IL-1β and IL-6 levels, significantly reduced iNOS and MMP-9 levels and significantly decreased COX-2 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1/2 mRNA levels in rats with surgically-induced lumbar IDD compared with the untreated group [123]. The gene discussed is NOS2; the disease is intervertebral disk degenerative disorder.