Clinical efficacy of curcumin in treating oral submucous fibrosis and dynamic analysis of associated cytokines

Q: How was the curcumin treatment compared with triamcinolone in this study?

The retrospective study enrolled 110 OSF patients and divided them into a curcumin group (n=54) and a triamcinolone group (n=56), with both treatments given for 4 weeks.

Q: What clinical outcomes improved more with curcumin?

Curcumin achieved higher total efficacy, faster pain reduction (VAS), greater mouth opening, and a smaller mucosal lesion area compared with triamcinolone.

Q: Which cytokines changed significantly after curcumin therapy?

Curcumin increased IFN-γ and reduced TGF-β1 and TNF-α, indicating dynamic regulation consistent with antifibrotic and immunomodulatory effects.

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by Franzy

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a chronic, inflammation-driven precancerous condition in which corticosteroids often provide only short-lived benefits and can cause adverse reactions. A retrospective study of 110 OSF patients compared 4-week curcumin treatment with triamcinolone, evaluating clinical efficacy, symptom improvement, and serum cytokines. Curcumin showed higher total efficacy, faster pain relief, improved mouth opening, and reduced lesion area, alongside increased IFN-γ and decreased TGF-β1 and TNF-α, suggesting dual immunomodulatory and antifibrotic effects.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages5

Reading Time13 min

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Abstract

Introduction

OSF background and pathogenesis

Limitations of current clinical management

Rationale for targeting cytokine regulation

® Observational Study Clinical efficacy of curcumin in treating oral submucous fibrosis and dynamic analysis of associated cytokines Juanhua Chai, MBa , Yang Li, MBb , Lu Zhang, MBa , Mengfei Yao, MBa , Yuxin Gu, MBa , Liye Song, MBa ,* | Abstract
Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a chronic, inflammation-driven precancerous condition. Current corticosteroid treatments often yield short-lived effects with adverse reactions. Curcumin’s anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic, and immunomodulatory properties suggest therapeutic potential, but clinical evidence remains limited. This retrospective study enrolled 110 OSF patients (June 2023– September 2024), divided into a curcumin group (*n* = 54) and a triamcinolone group (*n* = 56), treated for 4 weeks. Outcomes included clinical efficacy, symptom improvement (visual analog scale [VAS] score, mouth opening, mucosal lesion area), and cytokine levels (IFN-γ , TGF-β1, TNF-α). The curcumin group showed higher total efficacy (88.89% vs 73.21%, P = .037), faster pain reduction (VAS: 2.25 ± 0.52 vs 2.86 ± 0.43 at week 4, P < .001), greater mouth opening (36 .88 ± 2.07 mm vs 35.67 ± 2.71 mm, P < .05), and reduced lesion area (4.63 ± 0.54 cm² vs 5.61 ± 0.69 cm² , P < .001) . Serologically, curcumin increased IFN-γ(35.12 ± 5.05 pg/L vs 22.45 ± 4.50 pg/L, P < .001) and reduced TGF-β1 (1423.67 ± 290.35 pg/L vs 2750.45 ± 360.25 pg/L) and TNF-α (15 .75 ± 5.43 pg/L vs 32.10 ± 7.25 pg/L, P < .001) . In conclusion, curcumin outperformed triamcinolone in alleviating OSF symptoms, likely via dual regulation of IFN-γ (upregulation) and TGF-β1/TNF-α (downregulation), offering a promising therapeutic alternative. | | --- | | Abbreviations: OSF = oral submucous fibrosis, VAS = visual analog scale. | | Keywords: curcumin, inflammatory cytokines, oral submucous fibrosis, retrospective cohort study | 1. Introduction Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a chronic, progressive condition driven by persistent inflammation, and is widely recognized as a precancerous disorder.[1–3] Its primary pathological features include excessive submucosal collagen deposition, reduced elastic fibers, epithelial atrophy, and progressively limited mouth opening. [4,5] The prevalence of OSF is particularly high in South and Southeast Asia, with a strong association with areca nut chewing. [6,7] In recent years, the incidence of OSF has also been rising in certain regions of China, in parallel with increased areca nut consumption. According to existing literature, the malignant transformation rate of OSF ranges from 7% to 13%, and the World Health Organization has classified it as an oral potentially malignant disorder with established oncogenic potential. [8] The chronic and irreversible disease course not only impairs chewing, swallowing, and speech functions, but also imposes a lasting burden on patients’ psychological health and overall quality of life. [9–11] Although the exact pathogenesis of OSF remains incompletely understood, current evidence suggests that chronic This study was supported by the Hebei Province Medical Science Research Project Plan (20231532). The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose. The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. a Department ofStomatology, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University of Engineering, Handan, Hebei, China, b Department ofStomatology, Renqiu People’s Hospital, Renqiu, Hebei, China. * Correspondence: Liye Song, Department ofStomatology, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University of Engineering, Handan 056000, Hebei, China (e-mail: [15532010802@163.com](15532010802@163.com)). inflammation, aberrant fibroblast activation, and dysregulated extracellular matrix metabolism are central contributors to its development.[3,12] Notably, abnormal expression levels of inflammatory cytokines such as IFN-γ, TGF-β1, and TNF-α have been consistently observed in OSF patients, su

FAQs

How was the curcumin treatment compared with triamcinolone in this study?

The retrospective study enrolled 110 OSF patients and divided them into a curcumin group (n=54) and a triamcinolone group (n=56), with both treatments given for 4 weeks.

What clinical outcomes improved more with curcumin?

Curcumin achieved higher total efficacy, faster pain reduction (VAS), greater mouth opening, and a smaller mucosal lesion area compared with triamcinolone.

Which cytokines changed significantly after curcumin therapy?

Curcumin increased IFN-γ and reduced TGF-β1 and TNF-α, indicating dynamic regulation consistent with antifibrotic and immunomodulatory effects.

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by Franzy