Comparative evaluation of the efficacy of turmeric and curcumin as a local drug delivery system: a clinicomicrobiological study.

When host defense mechanisms fail to contain or eliminate pathogenic periodontal microflora, an exaggerated host response releases inflammatory mediators, which in turn destroy soft and hard tissue components of the periodontium. This in vitro and in vivo study comparatively evaluated the adjunctive efficacy of turmeric, curcumin, and traditional nonsurgical methods for treating periodontal pockets. Turmeric and curcumin chips were prepared and the in vitro release pattern was estimated using a Keshary-Chien diffusion reaction. At 24 hours, the in vitro release pattern showed that 70% of turmeric was released, compared to 78% for curcumin chips. At 72 hours, these levels had increased to 78% of turmeric and 80% of curcumin. By the end of 80 hours, 100% of drug release had taken place. Plaque index and gingival index scores showed significant improvement from baseline through the end of the study.