Non-Cochrane · intervention · PM42260483
Local curcumin/turmeric-derived delivery adjunctive to scaling and root planing for periodontitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Wu Shuoyan, Xuan Yan, Luo Xin · BMC oral health · 2026 · PubMed · doi:10.1186/s12903-026-08846-x
Findings
5 findings
| Population | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Systemically healthy adults with periodontitis receiving scaling and root planing (SRP) | Subgingivally delivered curcumin/turmeric-derived formulation (gel, chip, strip, in situ gel, nanoparticle) adjunctive to SRP | Inactive control (SRP alone, placebo or empty vehicle) | Probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction, mean difference in mm (negative favors curcumin) Longest available follow-up · Periodontal clinic trials · Parallel-arm, systemically healthy, inactive controls | MD -0.67 [-1.13, -0.22] Low Downgraded: risk of bias, inconsistency 6 studies |
| Systemically healthy adults with periodontitis receiving scaling and root planing (SRP) | Subgingivally delivered curcumin/turmeric-derived formulation (gel, chip, strip, in situ gel, nanoparticle) adjunctive to SRP | Inactive control (SRP alone, placebo or empty vehicle) | Probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction, mean difference in mm (negative favors curcumin) Longest available follow-up · Periodontal clinic trials · Split-mouth, inactive controls | MD -0.46 [-0.68, -0.24] Low Downgraded: risk of bias, inconsistency 15 studies |
| Systemically healthy adults with periodontitis receiving scaling and root planing (SRP) | Subgingivally delivered curcumin/turmeric-derived formulation (gel, chip, strip, in situ gel, nanoparticle) adjunctive to SRP | Inactive control (SRP alone, placebo or empty vehicle) | Probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction, mean difference in mm (negative favors curcumin) Longest available follow-up · Periodontal clinic trials · Newer inactive-control RCT/quasi-RCT reports (Behal 2011, Jaswal 2014, Ali 2020, Saini 2021, Saima 2024, Pramod Kumar 2025) | MD -0.70 [-1.07, -0.33] GRADE not reported 6 studies |
| Systemically healthy adults with periodontitis receiving scaling and root planing (SRP); sensitivity set adds smokers and patients with diabetes | Subgingivally delivered curcumin/turmeric-derived formulation (gel, chip, strip, in situ gel, nanoparticle) adjunctive to SRP | Inactive control (SRP alone, placebo or empty vehicle) | Probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction, mean difference in mm (negative favors curcumin) Longest available follow-up · Periodontal clinic trials · Parallel-arm including smokers and patients with diabetes (sensitivity analysis) | MD -0.82 [-1.22, -0.42] GRADE not reported 8 studies |
| Adults with periodontitis receiving SRP (active-comparator trials) | Subgingivally delivered curcumin/turmeric-derived formulation (gel, chip, strip, in situ gel, nanoparticle) adjunctive to SRP | Active comparator adjunct with SRP (chlorhexidine, ornidazole or other local agent) | Probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction, mean difference in mm (negative favors curcumin) Longest available follow-up · Periodontal clinic trials · Active comparator exploratory analysis (5 comparisons) | MD -0.68 [-1.38, 0.02] Very low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency, indirectness 5 studies |
Included primary studies 37
Open in Studies| Study | Year | Also included by | Outcomes it informs here | Trial data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Borgohain 2023 Efficacy of Cucurmin and Aloevera Extracts Gel as Local Drugs Delivery Agents. PMID:37693983 | 2023 | 2 other reviews | Probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction, mean difference in mm (negative favors curcumin) | not extracted yet |
| Elavarasu 2016 Evaluation of superoxide dismutase levels in local drug delivery system containing 0.2% curcumin strip as an adjunct to scaling and root… PMID:27829747 | 2016 | 2 other reviews | Probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction, mean difference in mm (negative favors curcumin) | not extracted yet |
| Rahalkar 2021 Determination of efficacy of curcumin and Tulsi extracts as local drugs in periodontal pocket reduction: A clinical and microbiological… PMID:34158685 | 2021 | 2 other reviews | Probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction, mean difference in mm (negative favors curcumin) | not extracted yet |
| Abdel-Fatah 2023 Efficacy of curcumin gel as an adjunct to scaling and root planing on salivary procalcitonin level in the treatment of patients with… PMID:37981665 | 2023 | 1 other review | Probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction, mean difference in mm (negative favors curcumin) | not extracted yet |
| Anitha 2015 Comparative evaluation of natural curcumin and synthetic chlorhexidine in the management of chronic periodontitis as a local drug… PMID:25961616 | 2015 | 1 other review | Probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction, mean difference in mm (negative favors curcumin) | not extracted yet |
| Desai 2020 matched by author and year (probable) | NR | 1 other review | Probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction, mean difference in mm (negative favors curcumin) | not extracted yet |
| Gupta 2025 Comparative Assessment of Subgingivally Delivered 2% Curcumin Gel as an Adjunct to Scaling and Root Planing in Smokers with Chronic… PMID:40655860 | 2025 | 1 other review | Probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction, mean difference in mm (negative favors curcumin) | not extracted yet |
| Guru 2020 Comparative evaluation of 2% turmeric extract with nanocarrier and 1% chlorhexidine gel as an adjunct to scaling and root planing in… PMID:32773975 | 2020 | 1 other review | Probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction, mean difference in mm (negative favors curcumin) | not extracted yet |
| Khalil 2024 DOI:10.3290/j.cjdr.b5459607 | NR | 1 other review | Probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction, mean difference in mm (negative favors curcumin) | not extracted yet |
| Perez-Pacheco 2021 Local application of curcumin-loaded nanoparticles as an adjunct to scaling and root planing in periodontitis: Randomized,… PMID:33125518 | 2021 | 1 other review | Probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction, mean difference in mm (negative favors curcumin) | not extracted yet |
| Raghava 2019 Efficacy of Curcumin as an Adjunct to Scaling and Root Planing in Chronic Periodontitis Patients: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. PMID:31597806 | 2019 | 1 other review | Probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction, mean difference in mm (negative favors curcumin) | not extracted yet |
| Saini 2021 matched by author and year (probable) | NR | 1 other review | Probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction, mean difference in mm (negative favors curcumin) | not extracted yet |
| Siddharth 2020 A Comparative Evaluation of Subgingivally Delivered 2% Curcumin and 0.2% Chlorhexidine Gel Adjunctive to Scaling and Root Planing in… PMID:32690830 | 2020 | 1 other review | Probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction, mean difference in mm (negative favors curcumin) | not extracted yet |
| Singh 2018 Evaluation of Turmeric Chip Compared with Chlorhexidine Chip as a Local Drug Delivery Agent in the Treatment of Chronic Periodontitis: A… DOI:10.1089/acm.2017.0059 | 2018 | 1 other review | Probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction, mean difference in mm (negative favors curcumin) | not extracted yet |
| Singh 2018 Evaluation of Turmeric Chip Compared with Chlorhexidine Chip as a Local Drug Delivery Agent in the Treatment of Chronic Periodontitis: A… PMID:28731780 | 2018 | 1 other review | Probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction, mean difference in mm (negative favors curcumin) | not extracted yet |
| Abdel-Fatah 2023 Efficacy of curcumin gel as an adjunct to scaling and root planing on salivary procalcitonin level in the treatment of patients with… DOI:10.1186/s12903-023-03512-y | 2023 | this review only | Probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction, mean difference in mm (negative favors curcumin) | not extracted yet |
| Anitha 2015 Comparative evaluation of natural curcumin and synthetic chlorhexidine in the management of chronic periodontitis as a local drug… DOI:10.4103/0970-9290.156806 | 2015 | this review only | Probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction, mean difference in mm (negative favors curcumin) | not extracted yet |
| Anuradha 2015 Evaluation of Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Curcumin Gel as an Adjunct to Scaling and Root Planing: A Clinical Study. PMID:26229378 | 2015 | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Behal 2011 Evaluation of local drug-delivery system containing 2% whole turmeric gel used as an adjunct to scaling and root planing in chronic… PMID:21772719 | 2011 | this review only | Probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction, mean difference in mm (negative favors curcumin) | not extracted yet |
| Bhatia 2014 Novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of periodontitis by curcumin. PMID:25654035 | 2014 | this review only | Probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction, mean difference in mm (negative favors curcumin) | not extracted yet |
| Jaswal 2014 Comparative evaluation of single application of 2% whole turmeric gel versus 1% chlorhexidine gel in chronic periodontitis patients: A… PMID:25425818 | 2014 | this review only | Probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction, mean difference in mm (negative favors curcumin) | not extracted yet |
| Karthickeyan 2019 matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Kaur 2019 Evaluation of Curcumin Gel as Adjunct to Scaling & Root Planing in Management of Periodontitis- Randomized Clinical & Biochemical… DOI:10.2174/1871526518666180601073422 | 2019 | this review only | Probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction, mean difference in mm (negative favors curcumin) | not extracted yet |
| Kaur 2019 Evaluation of Curcumin Gel as Adjunct to Scaling & Root Planing in Management of Periodontitis- Randomized Clinical & Biochemical… PMID:29852877 | 2019 | this review only | Probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction, mean difference in mm (negative favors curcumin) | not extracted yet |
| Khalil 2024 Sustained Release of Liposomal Curcumin: Enhanced Periodontal Outcomes in Diabetic Patients. PMID:38953482 | 2024 | this review only | Probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction, mean difference in mm (negative favors curcumin) | not extracted yet |
| Kumar 2025 Effect of 2% Curcumin Gel as a Local Drug Delivery System on Salivary MMP-8 Levels in Nonsurgical Treatment of Chronic Periodontitis: A… DOI:10.5005/jp-journals-10015-2673 | 2025 | this review only | Probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction, mean difference in mm (negative favors curcumin) | not extracted yet |
| Kumar VP 2025 matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | Probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction, mean difference in mm (negative favors curcumin) | not extracted yet |
| Nagasri 2015 Efficacy of curcumin as an adjunct to scaling and root planning in chronic periodontitis patients: A clinical and microbiological study. PMID:26538916 | 2015 | this review only | Probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction, mean difference in mm (negative favors curcumin) | not extracted yet |
| Nasra 2017 Formulation, <i>in-vitro</i> characterization and clinical evaluation of curcumin <i>in-situ</i> gel for treatment of periodontitis DOI:10.1080/10717544.2016.1233591 | 2017 | this review only | Probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction, mean difference in mm (negative favors curcumin) | not extracted yet |
| Nasra 2017 Formulation, in-vitro characterization and clinical evaluation of curcumin in-situ gel for treatment of periodontitis. PMID:28156166 | 2017 | this review only | Probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction, mean difference in mm (negative favors curcumin) | not extracted yet |
| Perez-Pacheco 2021 Local application of curcumin-loaded nanoparticles as an adjunct to scaling and root planing in periodontitis: Randomized,… DOI:10.1007/s00784-020-03652-3 | 2020 | this review only | Probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction, mean difference in mm (negative favors curcumin) | not extracted yet |
| Pramod Kumar 2025 matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | Probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction, mean difference in mm (negative favors curcumin) | not extracted yet |
| Ramalingam 2025 Evaluation of the efficacy of curcuminoids gel as an adjunct to scaling and root planing in the treatment of chronic periodontitis: A… PMID:41357455 | 2025 | this review only | Probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction, mean difference in mm (negative favors curcumin) | not extracted yet |
| Ravishankar 2017 Effect of local application of curcumin and ornidazole gel in chronic periodontitis patients. PMID:29692978 | 2017 | this review only | Probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction, mean difference in mm (negative favors curcumin) | not extracted yet |
| Saima 2024 matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | Probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction, mean difference in mm (negative favors curcumin) | not extracted yet |
| Saini 2021 Comparative Clinical Evaluation of Two Local Drug Delivery Agents (Neem Chip and Turmeric Chip) in Chronic Periodontitis: An Experimental… DOI:10.5005/jp-journals-10015-1818 | 2021 | this review only | Probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction, mean difference in mm (negative favors curcumin) | not extracted yet |
| Samal 2022 matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | Probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction, mean difference in mm (negative favors curcumin) | not extracted yet |
Overlap with other reviews
Reviews that include the same primary studies are not independent evidence. Shared counts match studies by PMID, DOI or NCT, and otherwise by author and year (a probable match). Only the non-Cochrane dental reviews have study lists, so overlap with Cochrane reviews is not counted yet.
Review question
| Element | Planned (methods) | Found (results) |
|---|---|---|
| Population | Patients with periodontitis (including chronic periodontitis); primary estimates restricted to systemically healthy participants, smokers and patients with diabetes as sensitivity | Patients with periodontitis (29 studies); healthy parallel-arm (n=6 studies), split-mouth (n=15), smokers and patients with diabetes in sensitivity (parallel, n=8) |
| Intervention | Subgingivally delivered curcumin, turmeric, Curcuma longa or curcuminoid formulations (gels, chips, strips, in situ systems, nanoparticles) adjunctive to SRP | Curcumin/turmeric gels, in situ gels, chips, strips, nanoparticle and liposomal formulations adjunctive to SRP |
| Comparison | Inactive controls (SRP alone, placebo or empty vehicle); active comparators (chlorhexidine, ornidazole, neem, other local agents) | Inactive control (SRP alone, placebo or empty vehicle); active comparators chlorhexidine, ornidazole (5 comparisons) |
| Outcomes | PPD (primary, longest follow-up); CAL, plaque index, gingival index, bleeding outcomes; adverse events | PPD pooled (27 reports contributed PPD data); CAL, PI, GI, bleeding summarized narratively; adverse events not systematically collected |
| Study designs | Randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials, parallel-arm and split-mouth | Randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials (n=29) |
| Timing | Minimum follow-up of 21 days | Longest available follow-up for PPD |
AMSTAR 2 items
Two independent extractors rated each item. Their ratings are shown side by side because they have not been reconciled yet. The overall rating follows Shea et al. 2017: one critical flaw gives Low, more than one gives Critically Low.
| Item | Extractor A | Extractor B | Agree |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Research question includes PICO components | Yes | Yes | yes |
| 2Protocol established before the reviewcritical | Yes | Yes | yes |
| 3Choice of study designs explained | Yes | No | no |
| 4Comprehensive literature searchcritical | Partial Yes | Partial Yes | yes |
| 5Study selection in duplicate | Yes | Yes | yes |
| 6Data extraction in duplicate | Yes | Yes | yes |
| 7List of excluded studies with reasonscritical | No | No | yes |
| 8Included studies described in detail | Partial Yes | Partial Yes | yes |
| 9Risk of bias assessed satisfactorilycritical | NRSI: N/A · RCT: Yes | RCT: Yes · NRSI: N/A | no |
| 10Funding of included studies reported | No | No | yes |
| 11Appropriate meta-analysis methodscritical | RCT: Yes · NRSI: N/A | NRSI: N/A · RCT: Yes | no |
| 12Impact of risk of bias on the pooled results | No | No | yes |
| 13Risk of bias accounted for in interpretationcritical | Yes | Yes | yes |
| 14Heterogeneity explained | Yes | Yes | yes |
| 15Publication bias investigatedcritical | Yes | No | no |
| 16Conflicts of interest reported | Yes | Yes | yes |
| Overall | Low | Critically Low | no |