Abstract

USE OF TURMERIC IN TREATMENT OF ORAL DISEASES: A REVIEW

Pradeep Kumar Jha, Md Asad Iqubal, Naushad Anwar, Mobeen Khan*, Shah Faisal and Diwyanshu

Abstract

Tumeric is a spice that comes from the root Curcuma longa, a member of the ginger family, Zingaberaceae. In Ayurveda, tumeric has been used for its medicinal properties for various indications and through different routes of administration, including topically, orally, and by inhalation. Curcuminoids are components of tumeric, which include mainly curcumin (diferuloyl methane), demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcmin. Turmeric has long been used as a treatment for inflammation, skin wounds and tumors. Curcumin has a variety of therapeutic properties including anti-oxidant, analgesic, antiinflammatory and antiseptic activity. Curcumin has shown antiproliferative effect in multiple cancers, and is an inhibitor of the transcription factor NF- kB and downstream gene products (including c-myc, Bcl-2, COX-2, NOS, Cyclin D1, TNF-α, interleukins and MMP-9).

Keywords: Turmeric; Oral lesions; Precancerous oral lesions; Recurrent aphthous stomatitis.