

It is recommended to rub the teeth and gums with this paste twice daily. Topical application Applying a paste made from 1 tsp of turmeric with ½ tsp of salt and ½ tsp of mustard oil provides relief from gingivitis and periodontitis. The anticarcinogenic effects of turmeric and curcumin are due to direct antioxidant and free-radical scavenging effects and their ability to indirectly increase glutathione levels, thereby aiding in hepatic detoxification of mutagens and carcinogens and in inhibiting nitrosamine formation. In two studies of colon and prostate cancer, curcumin inhibited cell proliferation and tumor growth. Animal studies involving rats and mice as well as in vitro studies utilizing human cell lines have demonstrated curcumin's ability to inhibit carcinogenesis at three stages: Tumor promotion, angiogenesis, and tumor growth. It effectively inhibits metastasis (uncontrolled spread) of melanoma (skin cancer) cells and may be especially useful in deactivating the carcinogens in cigarette smoke and chewing tobacco. Due to its low rate of absorption, curcumin is often formulated with bromelain for increased absorption and enhanced anti-inflammatory effect.Ĭurcumin is antimutagenic as it potentially helps to prevent new cancers that are caused by chemotherapy or radiation therapy used to treat existing cancers. About 40-85% of an oral dose of curcumin passes through the gastrointestinal tract unchanged, with most of the absorbed flavonoid being metabolized in the intestinal mucosa and liver. Curcumin has been used extensively in ayurvedic medicine for centuries, as it is nontoxic and has a variety of therapeutic properties including antioxidant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic activity, and anticarcinogenic activity.Īs a natural product, turmeric (curcumin) is nontoxic and has diversified effects in various oral diseases. The best-researched active constituent is curcumin, which comprises 0.3-5.4% of raw turmeric. Other constituents include sugars, proteins, and resins. The active constituents of turmeric are the flavonoid curcumin (diferuloylmethane) and various volatile oils including tumerone, atlantone, and zingiberone. Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is a polyphenol derived from Curcuma longa plant, commonly known as turmeric. Components of tumeric are named curcuminoids, which include mainly curcumin (diferuloyl methane), demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin. An orange pulp contained inside the rhizome constitutes the source of turmeric medicinal powder.

Its plant is 3 feet in height and has lance-shaped leaves and spikes of yellow flowers that grow in a fleshy rhizome or in underground stem. Turmeric ( haldi), a rhizome of Curcuma longa, is a flavourful yellow-orange spice. As only 1% of approximately 5,00,000 plant species worldwide has been phytochemically investigated until date, there is great potential for discovering novel bioactive compounds. Hence, the search for alternative products continues, and natural phytochemicals isolated from plants used as traditional medicines are considered as a good alternative source. The frequent use and misuse of the currently used therapeutic agents has led to the evolution of resistant strains of common pathogens as well as increased incidence of adverse effects associated with their usage. About 80% of the people in developing countries use traditional medicines for their health care. In rural areas of the developing countries, they continue to be used as the primary source of medicine. Medicinal plants have been used as a traditional treatment agent for numerous human diseases since ages in many parts of the world. It can also be used as a component in local drug delivery system in gel form. Turmeric can also be used as a pit and fissure sealant, mouth wash, and subgingival irrigant in different preparations. It has a role in the treatment of periodontal diseases and oral cancers. Due to these properties, it is quite useful in dentistry as well. It has proven properties like anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, immunostimulant, antiseptic, and antimutagenic.

Turmeric, a rhizome of Curcuma longa, is a herb known for its medicinal properties and is a more acceptable and viable option for a common man. The objective of this article is to review the efficacy of turmeric herb in maintenance of oral health, in particular, and overall health, in general. Turmeric has been attributed a number of medicinal properties in the traditional system of medicine. Plants have been the major source of medicine since the time immemorial. This has led to renewed interest in the discovery of novel anti-infective natural compounds derived from plants. Various modalities of treatment are available for different dental diseases, but the major drawback of these conventional drug therapies is the numerous side effects associated with their use.
