The Effects of Curcumin in the Treatment of Gingivitis: A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials

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#chlorhexidine #curcumin #gingivitis #humans #inflammation

The Effects of Curcumin in the Treatment of Gingivitis: A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials

Shirban et al., 2021 | Adv Exp Med Biol | Systematic Review

Citation

Shirban Farinaz, Gharibpour Fateme, ... Sahebkar Amirhossein. The Effects of Curcumin in the Treatment of Gingivitis: A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2021;1291:179-211. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-56153-6_11

Abstract

Different modalities of treatments are available for management of gingival disease but most have adverse effects. Curcumin has anti-inflammatory properties and can be used for management of various inflammatory processes. This systematic review evaluates the effects of curcumin as an adjuvant to oral hygiene on plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), gingival bleeding index (GBI), and inflammation in patients with gingivitis. A comprehensive search was conducted using PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane, SCOPUS, and Google Scholar. Based on the Population, Intervention, Control, and Outcome (PICO) model, clinical trials which tested the effects of curcumin as an adjunctive product or alone in control of gingival inflammation up until 21 February 2020 with language restrictions were selected. From the 422 papers found, 14 met the eligibility criteria. In most of these studies, curcumin treatment achieved significant reductions in PI, GI, GBI, and microbial colony count and was as effective as chlorhexidine mouthwash, with no serious adverse effects. We conclude that treatment with curcumin for gingivitis is safe as a natural herbal compound and is as effective as chlorhexidine mouthwash.

Key Findings

We conclude that treatment with curcumin for gingivitis is safe as a natural herbal compound and is as effective as chlorhexidine mouthwash.

Outcomes Measured

  • inflammatory markers

Population

Field Value
Population gingivitis
Sample Size See abstract
Age Range See abstract
Condition inflammation

MeSH Terms

  • Chlorhexidine
  • Curcumin
  • Gingivitis
  • Humans
  • Inflammation
  • Mouthwashes

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Systematic Review
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Systematic Review
  • Vertical: curcumin

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09