title: Effects of Curcuma extract and visible light on adults with plaque psoriasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We conducted a phase IV randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, pilot clinical trial to investigate the safety and efficacy of oral curcumin together with local phototherapy in patients with plaque psoriasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with moderate to severe psoriasis received Curcuma extract orally with real visible light phototherapy (VLRT) or simulated visible light phototherapy (VLST) in the experimental area, while the rest of the body surface was treated with ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation. The endpoints were the number of responders and the temporal course of the response. The secondary outcomes were related to safety and adverse events.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-one patients were included in the study. In the intention-to-treat analysis, no patients included in the VLRT group showed "moderate" or "severe" plaques after the treatment, in contrast to the patients included in the VSLT group (p<0.01). Parallelisms in the evolution of PGA, BSA, and PASI scores were observed in the two groups following the treatment. At the end of the study period, 76% of all patients showed a response in the BSA exposed to UVA. Lesions on the experimental area showed a response in 81% of the patients in the VLRT group and 30% of the patients in the VLST group. There were no study-related adverse events that necessitated participant withdrawal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggested that moderate to severe plaque psoriasis should show a therapeutic response to orally administered Curcuma if activated with visible light phototherapy, a new therapeutic method that would be safer for patients than existing treatments.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Unit, Especialidades Farmacéuticas Centrum, C/Sagitario, 14, 03006 Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carrion-Gutierrez
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Clinical Research Units, Centro Dermatológico Estético, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramirez-Bosca
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Clinical Research Units, Centro Dermatológico Estético, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Navarro-Lopez
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Clinical Research Units, Centro Dermatológico Estético, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Asunción
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martinez-Andres
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Clinical Research Units, Centro Dermatológico Estético, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asín-Llorca
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venerology, J.W. Goethe-University, Medical School, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
authors.forename: August
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bernd
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Pediatrics and Organic Chemistry, Miguel Hernández University, Elche, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: José Francisco
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Horga de la Parte
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D030024:Curcuma; D003474:Curcumin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D003474:Curcumin
keywords: Curcuma longa extract; phototherapy; psoriasis; visible light