title: Research on curcumin: A meta-analysis of potentially malignant disorders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Turmeric has been described in ayurveda, and is referred by different names in different cultures, the active principle called curcumin or diferuloylmethane, has been shown to exhibit numerous activities. Extensive research over the last half century has revealed several important functions of curcumin. It binds to a variety of proteins and inhibits the activity of various kinases. By modulating the activation of various transcription factors, curcumin regulates the expression of inflammatory enzymes, cytokines, adhesion molecules, and cell survival proteins. Various preclinical, clinical, and animal studies suggest that curcumin has potential as an antiproliferative, anti-invasive, and antiangiogenic, as a mediator of chemoresistance, chemopreventive, and as a therapeutic agent. Thus, curcumin a spice once relegated to the kitchen shelf has moved into the clinic and may prove to be "Curecumin." Methodology and Objectives: The focus of this publication is to provide research on curcumin with scientific publications on curcumin indexed in PubMed, Google J-Gate including systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials (RCT's), observational studies, or case series reports for various potentially malignant disorders (PMD's) with special attention to studies on oral submucous fibrosis. This research will be valuable in terms of identifying opportunities to provide recommendations for future research, in terms of the populations to research, the types of interventions needed, the types of outcomes to be measured, the study designs needed, to initiate a pathway for a low-cost research plan for future clinical trials in this field with an emphasis on conducting studies in regions of the world where PMD's are prevalent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a lacunae for scientific review of curcumin for PMDs specially on OSMF. Appropriate therapeutic interventions are needed for the initial, intermediate, and advanced stages of the disease. High-quality RCTs should be initiated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Al-Badar Rural Dental College and Hospital, Davangere, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Syeda Arshiya
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ara
authors.forename: Jayashree A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Mudda
authors.forename: Ashok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lingappa
authors.forename: Purushottam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rao
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D030024:Curcuma / Q000737:chemistry; D003474:Curcumin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D009914:Oral Submucous Fibrosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D016207:Cytokines; D003474:Curcumin