AIM:To explore effects of curcumin on viability of high glucose concentration (HGC) cultured rhesus choroido-retinal endothelial cell (RF/6A).METHODS:RF/6A was assigned into 4 groups (n= 6/group). Control group (CONT group), high glucose concentration group (HGC group):30mmol/L glucose was administered, curcumin group (CUR group):30μmol/L curcumin was administered, curcumin-glucose group (C-G group):30mmol/L glucose and 30μmol/L curcumin were administered. Cell viability was detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) at 1, 3 and 5 day after cultivation. Moreover, malonaldehyde (MDA), activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and anti-oncogene protein 27 (p27) were detected at day 5.RESULTS:Compared with CONT group, HGC group showed decrease of cell viability, increase of MDA, decrease of activity of SOD, down-regulation of PCNA and up-regulation of p27 (P＜0.01). While, no difference could be detected in CUR group or C-G group compared with CONT group (P＞0.05). CONCLUSION:Curcumin inhabits HGC-induced oxidative stress, reverses expression of PCNA and p27, and, therefore, contribute to curcumin maintaining RF/6A viability.