According to a preliminary clinical trial, published in the journal Hindawi by Sabinsa cofounder and lead author Dr. Muhammed Majeed, certain metabolites present in curcumin may have a beneficial effect on inflammatory oral health conditions.
 
In a study which recruited a small group of patients suffering from gingivitis and Canker sores, researchers administered a curcumin extract marketed by Sabinsa as Curcumin C3 Reduct, in order to evaluate whether Tetrahydrocurcuminoids (THCs), a metabolite of oral curcuminoids ingestion, would have an preventative effect on the progression of Canker sores in the 30 patients with Canker sores and 29 patients with gingivitis. This curcumin extract is composed entirely of THCs.
 
Both Canker sores and gingivitis, left untreated, can result in more severe dental health issues, including tooth loss.
 
Over a three week period in which the participants took two 100 mg chewable tablets daily, all canker sore patients saw a remission of their lesions – additionally, the gingivitis patients saw significant reductions in a number of gingivitis parameters, including gingival appearance, bleeding, and inflammation.
 
In both participant groups, there was a significant reduction in self-reported pain, numbness, ulcer formation, and dryness, with no staining or allergic symptoms.
 
“Arguably, THCs derived from the curcuminoids with a higher bioavailability and physiological stability and with more potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and anti-cancer activity than curcumin could be an effective agent for protecting oral health,” the authors said. “The overall findings from this study revealed that THCs effectively inhibited burning and reddening, reduced throat numbness, and relieved throat pain with the disappearance of Canker sore lesions. No change in the bleeding was observed after treatment when compared with the baseline indicating no further deterioration of the gums. Moreover, the photographic evaluation before and after treatment showed the absence of Canker sore lesions after treatment with THCs.”
 
While the study lacked a placebo group, the authors described the findings as strong preliminary evidence which could go on to inform future research.
 
Sabinsa also pointed to previous research which found that a topically-applied 2% THCs gel formulation was able to alleviate clinical symptoms of oral leukoplakia on effected areas inside the mouth. Leukoplakia, a condition in which one or more white patches or lesions develop on the mouth, is differentiated by the fact that it can eventually form into oral cancer.
 
A pool of 8 patients who were administered the topical gel over a 3-week period had significant reductions of burning sensations, and were completely asymptomatic by the end of the study, according to the researchers. While the results were sourced from a small, preliminary pool of participants, remarkable histological improvements seen in a subset of patients encourages future long-term trials, the researchers said.
 
“Discovering herbal-based treatments in conditions where no satisfactory pharma therapy is readily available continues to drive our innovation,” Majeed said. “It is particularly satisfying when no side effects are seen in these trials and the treatment costs are eminently affordable.”