title: Evaluation of the Efficacy of Curcumin in the Treatment of Oral Lichen Planus: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oral Lichen Planus (OLP) is a chronic immunological, mucocutaneous disease with a wide range of clinical appearances. The treatment of oral lichen planus is often difficult and disappointing.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We have studied the efficacy of curcumin, a low molecular weight flavonoid with anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities, in the treatment of OLP.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted with a total of 20 OLP patients. The patients were randomly divided into two groups, each treated with curcumin tablets at a dose of 2000 mg/day or placebo for a period of four weeks. Furthermore, the patients of both groups received routine treatment for OLP (i.e. Mouthwash Dexamethasone 0.5 mg and suspension Nystatin 100,000 Units). The baseline data were recorded for each patient. Patients were evaluated on day 14 and after completing the course of treatment. Pain and burning sensation were measured based on the Visual Analogue Scale, and the Thongprasom Index was used for clinical improvement and healing. Mann-Whitney and independent t-test were used to compare the responses between the two groups, p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our analyses demonstrated no significant difference between the curcumin and placebo treated groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, curcumin had no detectable effect in the treatment of OLP. However, a higher dose of curcumin administration and other forms of curcumin with improved bioavailability may be considered in future studies.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Oral Medicine, Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases Research Center, School of Dentistry, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences , Mashhad, Iran .
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amirchaghmaghi
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Oral Medicine, Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases Research Center, School of Dentistry, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences , Mashhad, Iran .
authors.forename: Atessa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pakfetrat
authors.affiliation: Specialist of Oral Medicine, Mashhad, Iran .
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Delavarian
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Oral Medicine, Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases Research Center, School of Dentistry, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences , Mashhad, Iran .
authors.forename: Hanieh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ghalavani
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Oral Medicine, Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases Research Center, School of Dentistry, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences , Mashhad, Iran .
authors.forename: Ala
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghazi
keywords: Anti-inflammatory; Clinical trial; Erosive