Oral Precanerous Lesions are Too Common

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Oral precancerous lesions are one of the most common lesions worldwide today. They are usually neglected by the common population when compared to cancerous lesion. However, they also may be extremely fatal which changes as cancer if left untreated at a very initial stage of the lesion. Early detection and treatment gives the best chance for its cure. The detection and diagnosis are currently based on clinical examination, histopathological evaluation of the biopsy material and molecular methods. Several medications have been developed over the years for early cure of oral precancerous lesion. The purpose of this article is to review the available curcumin herbal to treat these precancerous lesions.

Key words: curcumin herbal, oral precancerous lesions, anti-oxidant, apoptosis

INTRODUCTION

Extensive research within the past half-century has indicated that curcumin (diferuloylmethane), a yellow pigment in curry powder, exhibits anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and pro-apoptotic activities. The anti-pre-cancer activities assigned to curcumin are mediated through an anti-oxidant and DNA protecting mechanism1. Values for serum and salivary vitamins C and E showed a significant decrease in oral leukoplakia, submucous fibrosis and lichen planus, in contrast to healthy individuals, but increased significantly in all groups subsequent to curcumin administration after clinical cure of lesions.Oral leukoplakia and submucous fibrosis are two major precancerous lesions, but only 8-10% of these lesionsultimately become malignant2 . The ability to clinically predict malignant transformation is limited and routine histopathological diagnosis has limited prognostic value. The presence of epithelial dysplasia is an important paramete...

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...patients after intake of curcumin, as compared to pre-treatment levels1. The mechanisms by which curcumin mediates its prooxidant effects remain unclear. It has been suggested that mitochondria play a role in curcumin-induced apoptosis. It is possible that curcumin activates the mitochondrial enzymes that lead to production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) 21, 22.The induction of ROS by curcumin may occur through its interaction with thioredoxinreductase, thus altering its activity to NADPH oxidase, which could then lead to the production of ROS23.The mechanism of action of TO in oncoprevention can be speculated to be through its antioxidant action and protection against DNA damage.

An adverse effect on lipids was noticed in only one case in this study. Prakasunand et al have reported on the biochemical safety of turmeric, 3gms/day, in 54 cases of pepticulcer24

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