Comparison of effectiveness of curcumin with triamcinolone acetonide in the gel form in treatment of minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis: A randomized clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is an unfortunately most common disease occurring in oral cavity. Although the lesion is usually self-limited, its painful presentation, high frequency of occurrence, and multifactorial etiology leads to significant morbidity. So, an efficient therapeutic strategy is needed to provide relief to the patients.

AIM: To assess and compare the efficacy of Curcumin with Triamcinolone acetonide in the gel form in treatment of minor RAS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: As a randomized clinical trial, 60 patients of either sex with clinically diagnosed RAS were randomly divided into 2 groups-Curcumin gel group (Group I) and Triamcinolone Acetonide gel group (Group II). Patients in either group were asked to apply the gel three times a day on each ulcer. Assessment of efficacy of gel was done on the basis of time required for regression in pain, size, and number of the ulcers.

RESULTS: The results showed significant difference in size, pain, number, and duration of ulcers in Group I and Group II within a period of 7 days. However, no significant difference was noted in both the groups in the treatment of RAS. To evaluate the efficacy, Mann-Whitney U test was used and statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 19 software.

CONCLUSION: Curcumin has strong antioxidant, with anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and analgesic properties, which according to the results obtained from the present study, can be used as an effective alternative to steroids in treatment of RAS.