Research J. Pharm. and Tech.

8(8): August 2015

ISSN 0974-3618 (Print) www.rjptonline.org

0974-360X (Online)

REVIEW ARTICLE

Effects of turmeric on oral submucous fibrosis: A Systematic Review

Nirisha Sriram1, Gheena. S2, Samrithi Yuvaraj3
1 st
1 Year BDS, Reader, Saveetha Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, India
2
Department of Oral Pathalogy, Saveetha Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, India
3 st
1 Year BDS Saveetha Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, India
*Corresponding Author E-mail: nirishasriram@gmail.com

ABSTRACT:
Oral submucous fibrosis is a chronic, complex potentially malignant disorder with a high risk of malignant
transformation. As the disease progresses, the jaws become rigid to the point that the sufferers are unable to open
their mouth. The major cause of this condition is arecanut or betel quid chewing. This systematic review
explores and discusses the researches done in the effectiveness of turmeric in oral submucous fibrosis. The name
turmeric is derived from the Latin word terra merita or turmeryte. The most active component present in
turmeric is curcumin. It is a safe, non-toxic and an effective herb that can act as an alternative for many
conventional drugs due to its enormous therapeutic properties on various systems of our body. Since age old
times turmeric has been used in households with the belief that it can destroy harmful agents. Now has come the
era where turmeric finds its use out of households and into clinics. Through various studies it has been found that
turmeric has anti oxidants and anti allergic activities. This makes turmeric a better choice for clinicians to use it
to cure precancerous lesions like oral submucous fibrosis. Researches that are done on human beings have
almost shown positive results in curing oral submucous fibrosis. However to implement the use of turmeric in
oral submucous fibrosis clinically more trials on a large scale are yet to be conducted.

KEY WORDS: OSMF, Oral submucous fibrosis , Turmeric, Curcumin, Precancerous lesions .

INTRODUCTION: o Early lesions show blanching of the oral mucosa. Older

According to Pindborg, oral submucous fibrosis is an lesions include vertical and circular palpable fibrous
insidious chronic disease affecting the mucosa or any bands in the buccal mucosa and around the mouth
part of the oral cavity and occasionally extending to the opening or lips.
pharynx and esophagus. o
o This results in a mottled marble like appearance of the
Pindborg classified oral submucous fibrosis into 3 types mucosa because of the vertical thick, fibrous bands in
clinically (1) association with a blanched mucosa.
 Stage I: Stomatitis includes erythematous mucosa, o
vesicles, mucosal ulcers, melanotic mucosal o Specific findings include reduction of mouth opening,
pigmentation and mucosal petechiae. stiff and small tongue, blanched and leathery floor of the
 Stage II : Fibrosis occurs in healing vesicles and mouth, fibrotic and de-pigmented gingival, rubbery soft
ulcers, which is the hallmark of this stage. palate with decreased mobility, blanched and atrophic
tonsils, shrunken bud like uvula and sunken cheeks, not
commensurate with age or nutritional status.

Received on 25.05.2015 Modified on 16.06.2015

Accepted on 15.07.2015 © RJPT All right reserved
Research J. Pharm. and Tech. 8(8): August, 2015; Page 1051-1055
DOI: 10.5958/0974-360X.2015.00180.8

1051