Non-Cochrane · intervention · PM42499105
Effect of curcumin compared to chlorhexidine on clinical variables of periodontal health: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Jiang Linxin, Li Simin, Reissmann Daniel R, et al. · Medicine · 2026 · PubMed · doi:10.1097/md.0000000000049862
Findings
Population Patients with gingivitis or periodontitis
61 findings
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Probing depth (PD) All follow-up times | SMD 0.883 [0.419, 1.347] GRADE not reported 14 studies |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Probing depth (PD) All follow-up times · With SRP | SMD 0.993 [0.500, 1.486] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Gingival index (GI) All follow-up times | SMD 0.033 [-0.216, 0.281] GRADE not reported 19 studies |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Bleeding index (BI) Long term (longer than 1 month) | SMD 0.074 [-0.360, 0.507] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Plaque index (PI) All follow-up times · Without SRP | SMD -0.194 [-0.505, 0.118] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Attachment loss (AL) All follow-up times · Published more than 5 years earlier | SMD 0.598 [-0.140, 1.336] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Gingival index (GI) All follow-up times · Periodontitis | SMD 0.124 [-0.442, 0.689] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Probing depth (PD) All follow-up times · Sample size >= 50 | SMD 0.728 [0.329, 1.126] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Gingival index (GI) All follow-up times · General full-mouth application | SMD -0.063 [-0.348, 0.221] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Bleeding index (BI) | SMD 0.044 [-0.208, 0.295] GRADE not reported 7 studies |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Attachment loss (AL) All follow-up times | SMD 0.539 [0.019, 1.058] GRADE not reported 8 studies |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Bleeding index (BI) All follow-up times · Sample size < 50 | SMD 0.052 [-0.324, 0.427] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Plaque index (PI) All follow-up times | SMD -0.041 [-0.245, 0.163] GRADE not reported 22 studies |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Plaque index (PI) All follow-up times · Gingivitis | SMD -0.125 [-0.369, 0.119] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Plaque index (PI) Long term (longer than 1 month) | SMD -0.133 [-0.619, 0.352] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Probing depth (PD) All follow-up times · Without SRP | SMD -0.301 [-0.754, 0.152] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Probing depth (PD) All follow-up times · Published within last 5 years | SMD 0.330 [-0.203, 0.863] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Gingival index (GI) All follow-up times · Gingivitis | SMD -0.022 [-0.285, 0.241] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Attachment loss (AL) Long term (longer than 1 month) | SMD 0.130 [-0.501, 0.762] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Bleeding index (BI) All follow-up times · With SRP | SMD 0.196 [-0.106, 0.498] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Gingival index (GI) All follow-up times · Sample size < 50 | SMD 0.102 [-0.195, 0.399] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Probing depth (PD) Long term (longer than 1 month) | SMD 0.581 [-0.119, 1.282] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Probing depth (PD) All follow-up times · Gingivitis | SMD -0.301 [-0.754, 0.152] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Gingival index (GI) Long term (longer than 1 month) | SMD 0.233 [-0.619, 1.085] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Bleeding index (BI) All follow-up times · Periodontitis | SMD 0.396 [-0.304, 1.096] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Bleeding index (BI) All follow-up times · Topical application | SMD 0.097 [-0.324, 0.517] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Plaque index (PI) All follow-up times · Sample size < 50 | SMD 0.025 [-0.204, 0.253] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Probing depth (PD) All follow-up times · Periodontitis | SMD 0.993 [0.500, 1.486] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Gingival index (GI) All follow-up times · Sample size >= 50 | SMD -0.164 [-0.650, 0.321] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Attachment loss (AL) All follow-up times · Published within last 5 years | SMD 0.453 [-0.255, 1.160] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Plaque index (PI) Short term (within 1 month) | SMD 0.033 [-0.198, 0.264] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Plaque index (PI) All follow-up times · Sample size >= 50 | SMD -0.263 [-0.725, 0.199] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Attachment loss (AL) All follow-up times · Sample size < 50 | SMD 0.577 [-0.017, 1.171] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Gingival index (GI) All follow-up times · Topical application | SMD 0.136 [-0.266, 0.538] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Plaque index (PI) All follow-up times · With SRP | SMD 0.049 [-0.211, 0.308] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Bleeding index (BI) All follow-up times · Published within last 5 years | SMD 0.204 [-0.0069, 0.477] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Plaque index (PI) All follow-up times · Published more than 5 years earlier | SMD 0.083 [-0.151, 0.318] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Attachment loss (AL) Short term (within 1 month) | SMD 0.797 [0.047, 1.546] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Plaque index (PI) All follow-up times · Topical application | SMD -0.133 [-0.619, 0.352] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Plaque index (PI) All follow-up times · General full-mouth application | SMD -0.015 [-0.241, 0.212] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Gingival index (GI) All follow-up times · Published more than 5 years earlier | SMD 0.169 [-0.098, 0.436] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Bleeding index (BI) All follow-up times · Adults | SMD 0.023 [-0.246, 0.293] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Bleeding index (BI) All follow-up times · Sample size >= 50 | SMD 0.018 [-0.184, 0.219] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Attachment loss (AL) Sample size: 50 or more | SMD 0.131 [-0.228, 0.489] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Gingival index (GI) All follow-up times · With SRP | SMD -0.013 [-0.394, 0.368] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Bleeding index (BI) All follow-up times · Without SRP | SMD -0.366 [-0.587, -0.144] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Bleeding index (BI) All follow-up times · Gingivitis | SMD -0.127 [-0.337, 0.083] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Gingival index (GI) All follow-up times · Published within last 5 years | SMD -0.269 [-0.873, 0.335] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Gingival index (GI) All follow-up times · Without SRP | SMD 0.071 [-0.234, 0.375] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Gingival index (GI) Short term (within 1 month) | SMD -0.026 [-0.269, 0.218] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Plaque index (PI) All follow-up times · Adults | SMD -0.042 [-0.249, 0.166] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Probing depth (PD) Short term (within 1 month) | SMD 1.121 [0.505, 1.738] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Plaque index (PI) All follow-up times · Published within last 5 years | SMD -0.358 [-0.791, 0.075] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Probing depth (PD) All follow-up times · Sample size < 50 | SMD 1.005 [0.411, 1.600] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Bleeding index (BI) All follow-up times · Published more than 5 years earlier | SMD -0.011 [-0.318, 0.297] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Bleeding index (BI) All follow-up times · Adolescents | SMD 0.251 [-0.343, 0.844] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Bleeding index (BI) All follow-up times · General full-mouth application | SMD -0.018 [-0.204, 0.167] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Probing depth (PD) All follow-up times · Published more than 5 years earlier | SMD 1.244 [0.612, 1.875] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Plaque index (PI) All follow-up times · Periodontitis | SMD 0.088 [-0.269, 0.446] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Bleeding index (BI) Short term (within 1 month) | SMD 0.038 [-0.240, 0.316] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Curcumin (mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy) | Chlorhexidine | Plaque index (PI) All follow-up times · Adolescents | SMD -0.032 [-1.422, 1.359] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
Included primary studies 26
Open in Studies| Study | Year | Also included by | Outcomes it informs here | Trial data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Desai 2020 matched by author and year (probable) | NR | 1 other review | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Jalaluddin 2019 matched by author and year (probable) | NR | 1 other review | not stated | 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 | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Singh 2015 matched by author and year (probable) | NR | 1 other review | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Singh 2018 matched by author and year (probable) | NR | 1 other review | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Singh 2021 matched by author and year (probable) | NR | 1 other review | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Arunachalam 2017 matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Bharathi 2024 matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Chatterjee 2017 matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Divya 2017 matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Gottumukkala 2013 matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Gottumukkala 2014 matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Guru 2020 matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Hugar 2016 matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Jaswal 2014 matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Kandwal 2015 matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Mali 2012 Comparative evaluation of 0.1% turmeric mouthwash with 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate in prevention of plaque and gingivitis: A clinical and… PMID:23162334 | 2012 | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Mirza 2020 matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Muglikar 2013 matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Paschoal 2015 Longitudinal effect of curcumin-photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy in adolescents during fixed orthodontic treatment: a single-blind… PMID:25543296 | 2015 | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Pulikkotil 2015 matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Sarkar 2023 matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Singhla 2017 matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Suhag 2007 matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Waghmare 2011 matched by author and year (probable) | NR | this review only | not stated | 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 clinically diagnosed with gingivitis or periodontitis without chronic systemic inflammatory disease | Patients with gingivitis (14 studies) or periodontitis (11 studies); 1266 participants |
| Intervention | Curcumin | Curcumin mouthwash, gel, chip, irrigation or photodynamic therapy (n=26) |
| Comparison | Chlorhexidine | Chlorhexidine (n=26) |
| Outcomes | Primary: plaque index, gingival index; secondary: probing depth, attachment loss, bleeding index | PI (22 RCTs), GI (19), PD (14), AL (8), BI (7) |
| Study designs | RCTs with at least 2 arms | RCTs (n=26) |
| Timing | Mean follow-up of at least 1 week | Short term within 1 month (16 studies); long term over 1 month (10 studies) |