title: Comparison of effectiveness of curcumin with triamcinolone acetonide in the gel form in treatment of minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis: A randomized clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  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.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess and compare the efficacy of Curcumin with Triamcinolone acetonide in the gel form in treatment of minor RAS.
  
  
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Karnataka Lingayat Education Society's, Vishwanath Katti Institute of Dental Sciences, Karnatak Lingayat Education University, Belgaum, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Radha A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Deshmukh
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Karnataka Lingayat Education Society's, Vishwanath Katti Institute of Dental Sciences, Karnatak Lingayat Education University, Belgaum, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Anjana S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Bagewadi
keywords: Curcumin; recurrent aphthous stomatitis; triamcinolone acetonide