Efficacy of curcumin for management of oral submucous fibrosis: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials

Publication date: Available online 16 January 2019

Source: Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology

Author(s): Sadeq Ali Al-Maweri

Abstract

Objectives

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a chronic debilitating disease that has a high risk of malignant transformation. Management of OSF is quite challenging with no definitive cure. This systematic review assessed the available evidence for using curcumin in pain alleviation and clinical improvement in patients with OSF.

Methods

A comprehensive search of Pubmed/Medline, Scopus, and ISI Web of Science databases was conducted to identify all relevant clinical trials comparing curcumin to active and/or non-active controls for the treatment of OSF.

Results

Six clinical trials comprising 298 patients were included. All studies found curcumin to be effective in the management of OSF. Three studies found significantly higher improvement in burning sensation in the curcumin group compared to controls, whereas three studies found comparable results. With regards to clinical signs, two studies showed better improvement in mouth opening in the curcumin group; three studies reported no differences in effectiveness; and only one study found curcumin to be inferior to conventional therapy.

Conclusion

The available evidence remains inconclusive but suggests that curcumin is a promising effective treatment option for the management of patients with OSF. Further well-designed clinical trials with large sample sizes and adequate follow-up periods are highly warranted.

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