Antibacterial activity of curcumin (turmeric) against periopathogens - An in vitro evaluation

Periodontitis is an inflammation of supporting tissues of the teeth. It is usually a progressively destructive change, leading to loss of bone, periodontal ligament, and extension of inflammation from gingival to adjacent bone and ligament.[1] Periodontal diseases are referred to as inflammatory processes in periodontal tissues in response to the aggregation of bacteria on the teeth. The aggregation rarely leads to evident infection; however, the inflammatory response caused in the gingival tissue is responsible for the gradual loss of dental collagen’s attachment to the alveolar bone. Left overlooked, this phenomenon might end in increased dental mobility, and eventually edentulism.[2] Production of destructive metabolites by Gram-negative and positive bacteria of the microbial plaque in the oral cavity causes gingivitis, leading to the progression of inflammation to periodontal diseases.[3] Chronic periodontitis being the cause of the tooth loss is an inflammatory disease preceded by periodontopathic bacteria in periodontal tissues.[4] Most of red complex bacteria such as Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, and Tannerella forsythia is considered to be an important consortium in the progression of periodontitis.[2] In our day-to-day life, mechanical and chemical plaque controls are important and effective methods to prevent periodontal disease. According to research, chlorhexidine, an antibacterial agent is the gold standard in today’s practice but has concerning side effects. In recent, the management approaches which include scaling, and root planning, periodontal surgical procedures along with adjunctive antibiotic therapy which reduces the clinical symptoms, elimination of periodontal pathogens and regeneration of beneficial bacterial flora. Not all patients or all sites respond uniformly and favorably to conventional