Effects of curcumin on crevicular levels of IL-1β and CCL28 in experimental gingivitis

BackgroundCurcumin has anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to compare interleukin-1 (IL-1) and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 28 (CCL28) levels following a topical application of curcumin (CRM), chlorhexidine (CHX) and chlorhexidine-metronidazole (CHX-MTZ) in an experimental gingivitis human model. MethodsSixty systemically healthy selected subjects were randomly assigned to one of three topical antigingivitis gels. Each gel was applied twice daily for 10minutes as the sole method of oral hygiene for 29days on the test quadrant only. Modified gingival index (MGI), plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP) and probing depth (PD) were assessed at baseline, 29days and 60days. Estimation of IL-1 and CCL28 levels in gingival crevicular fluid was done at baseline and at 29days. ResultsThe increase of IL-1 in the CRM (14.5216.6pg/ml) and CHX-MTZ (31.63 +/- 15.96) groups was significantly less than that of the CHX group (70.55 +/- 38.81). Similar results were also observed for CCL28 (CRM: 8.12 +/- 8.78pg/ml; CHX-MTZ: 12.81 +/- 18.68; CHX: 41.15 +/- 22.82). All groups had a significant increase in MGI, PI and BOP at 29days. ConclusionsThe anti-inflammatory potential of topical curcumin was similar to CHX-MTZ but superior to CHX in affecting IL-1 and CCL28 levels.