Efficacy of different pharmaceutical forms of Curcuma longa or curcumin in reducing oral mucositis severity and incidence in cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
BackgroundCurcuma longa L. (turmeric, Zingiberaceae) has been traditionally used for its anti-inflammatory, wound-healing, and antimicrobial properties. These characteristics have made it a key component in managing inflammatory and ulcerative conditions like oral mucositis (OM). This study aimed to...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Pharmacology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1560729/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849727522842869760 |
|---|---|
| author | Pedro de Padua G. Amatto Lucas Chaves Suzelei de Castro França José Carlos Tavares Carvalho Fabio Carmona Ana Maria Soares Pereira Ana Maria Soares Pereira |
| author_facet | Pedro de Padua G. Amatto Lucas Chaves Suzelei de Castro França José Carlos Tavares Carvalho Fabio Carmona Ana Maria Soares Pereira Ana Maria Soares Pereira |
| author_sort | Pedro de Padua G. Amatto |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundCurcuma longa L. (turmeric, Zingiberaceae) has been traditionally used for its anti-inflammatory, wound-healing, and antimicrobial properties. These characteristics have made it a key component in managing inflammatory and ulcerative conditions like oral mucositis (OM). This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of various pharmaceutical formulations of C. longa or curcumin in reducing the OM severity, incidence and associated pain in patients undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy for cancer.MethodsThis systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines, registered in PROSPERO (#CRD42024504111). Searches were performed in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases. Studies comparing C. longa or curcumin with placebo in cancer patients experiencing oral mucositis, reporting outcomes such as the World Health Organization Oral Mucositis Grading Scale, pain scores (visual analogue scale), or OM incidence were included. Risk ratios and weighted mean differences with 95% confidence intervals were calculated using fixed- or random-effects models.ResultsSix studies with 159 patients (mean age ∼50 years, 40% women) were included. C. longa extracts, curcumin, or nanocurcumin were administered in capsules, mouthwash, or gel formulations. The pooled analysis showed significant reductions in WHO scores and oral pain compared to placebo. OM incidence decreased by 6% overall, with a notable 37%-reduction observed in patients using curcumin-containing mouthwash during radiotherapy alone. Subgroup analyses revealed consistent benefits across all oncological treatments.ConclusionC. longa, curcumin, or nanocurcumin in various formulations, effectively reduce OM severity and pain while curcumin-containing mouthwash reduced OM incidence in cancer patients undergoing treatment.Systematic Review Registrationidentifier CRD 42024504111. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7fcca453883f45009ed779bea82bfeec |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1663-9812 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Pharmacology |
| spelling | doaj-art-7fcca453883f45009ed779bea82bfeec2025-08-20T03:09:48ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122025-04-011610.3389/fphar.2025.15607291560729Efficacy of different pharmaceutical forms of Curcuma longa or curcumin in reducing oral mucositis severity and incidence in cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysisPedro de Padua G. Amatto0Lucas Chaves1Suzelei de Castro França2José Carlos Tavares Carvalho3Fabio Carmona4Ana Maria Soares Pereira5Ana Maria Soares Pereira6Department of Biotechnology in Medicinal Plants, University of Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, BrazilRibeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, BrazilDepartment of Biotechnology in Medicinal Plants, University of Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, BrazilDepartment of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Amapá, Macapá, Amapá, BrazilRibeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, BrazilDepartment of Biotechnology in Medicinal Plants, University of Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, BrazilBotanical Garden of Medicinal Plants Ordem e Progresso, Jardinópolis, BrazilBackgroundCurcuma longa L. (turmeric, Zingiberaceae) has been traditionally used for its anti-inflammatory, wound-healing, and antimicrobial properties. These characteristics have made it a key component in managing inflammatory and ulcerative conditions like oral mucositis (OM). This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of various pharmaceutical formulations of C. longa or curcumin in reducing the OM severity, incidence and associated pain in patients undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy for cancer.MethodsThis systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines, registered in PROSPERO (#CRD42024504111). Searches were performed in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases. Studies comparing C. longa or curcumin with placebo in cancer patients experiencing oral mucositis, reporting outcomes such as the World Health Organization Oral Mucositis Grading Scale, pain scores (visual analogue scale), or OM incidence were included. Risk ratios and weighted mean differences with 95% confidence intervals were calculated using fixed- or random-effects models.ResultsSix studies with 159 patients (mean age ∼50 years, 40% women) were included. C. longa extracts, curcumin, or nanocurcumin were administered in capsules, mouthwash, or gel formulations. The pooled analysis showed significant reductions in WHO scores and oral pain compared to placebo. OM incidence decreased by 6% overall, with a notable 37%-reduction observed in patients using curcumin-containing mouthwash during radiotherapy alone. Subgroup analyses revealed consistent benefits across all oncological treatments.ConclusionC. longa, curcumin, or nanocurcumin in various formulations, effectively reduce OM severity and pain while curcumin-containing mouthwash reduced OM incidence in cancer patients undergoing treatment.Systematic Review Registrationidentifier CRD 42024504111.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1560729/fullturmericanti-inflammatory agentschemotherapy-induced mucositisradiotherapy side effectsherbal medicine |
| spellingShingle | Pedro de Padua G. Amatto Lucas Chaves Suzelei de Castro França José Carlos Tavares Carvalho Fabio Carmona Ana Maria Soares Pereira Ana Maria Soares Pereira Efficacy of different pharmaceutical forms of Curcuma longa or curcumin in reducing oral mucositis severity and incidence in cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis Frontiers in Pharmacology turmeric anti-inflammatory agents chemotherapy-induced mucositis radiotherapy side effects herbal medicine |
| title | Efficacy of different pharmaceutical forms of Curcuma longa or curcumin in reducing oral mucositis severity and incidence in cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full | Efficacy of different pharmaceutical forms of Curcuma longa or curcumin in reducing oral mucositis severity and incidence in cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_fullStr | Efficacy of different pharmaceutical forms of Curcuma longa or curcumin in reducing oral mucositis severity and incidence in cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Efficacy of different pharmaceutical forms of Curcuma longa or curcumin in reducing oral mucositis severity and incidence in cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_short | Efficacy of different pharmaceutical forms of Curcuma longa or curcumin in reducing oral mucositis severity and incidence in cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_sort | efficacy of different pharmaceutical forms of curcuma longa or curcumin in reducing oral mucositis severity and incidence in cancer patients a systematic review and meta analysis |
| topic | turmeric anti-inflammatory agents chemotherapy-induced mucositis radiotherapy side effects herbal medicine |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1560729/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT pedrodepaduagamatto efficacyofdifferentpharmaceuticalformsofcurcumalongaorcurcumininreducingoralmucositisseverityandincidenceincancerpatientsasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT lucaschaves efficacyofdifferentpharmaceuticalformsofcurcumalongaorcurcumininreducingoralmucositisseverityandincidenceincancerpatientsasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT suzeleidecastrofranca efficacyofdifferentpharmaceuticalformsofcurcumalongaorcurcumininreducingoralmucositisseverityandincidenceincancerpatientsasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT josecarlostavarescarvalho efficacyofdifferentpharmaceuticalformsofcurcumalongaorcurcumininreducingoralmucositisseverityandincidenceincancerpatientsasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT fabiocarmona efficacyofdifferentpharmaceuticalformsofcurcumalongaorcurcumininreducingoralmucositisseverityandincidenceincancerpatientsasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT anamariasoarespereira efficacyofdifferentpharmaceuticalformsofcurcumalongaorcurcumininreducingoralmucositisseverityandincidenceincancerpatientsasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT anamariasoarespereira efficacyofdifferentpharmaceuticalformsofcurcumalongaorcurcumininreducingoralmucositisseverityandincidenceincancerpatientsasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis |