Clearance of cervical human papillomavirus infection by topical application of curcumin and curcumin containing polyherbal cream: a phase II randomized controlled study.

Abstract

Curcumin and curcumin containing polyherbal preparations have demonstrated anti-microbial and anti- viral properties in pre-clinical studies. Till date no therapeutic intervention has been proved to be effective and safe in clearing established cervical human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. The present study evaluated the efficacy of Basant polyherbal vaginal cream (containing extracts of curcumin, reetha, amla and aloe vera) and of curcumin vaginal capsules to eliminate HPV infection from cervix. Women were screened by Pap smear and HPV DNA test by PCR. HPV positive women without high grade cervical neoplasias (N=287) were randomized to four intervention arms to be treated with vaginal Basant cream, vaginal placebo cream, curcumin vaginal capsules and placebo vaginal capsules respectively. All subjects were instructed to use one application of the assigned formulation daily for 30 consecutive days except during menstruation and recalled within seven days of the last application for repeat HPV test, cytology and colposcopy. HPV clearance rate in Basant arm (87.7%) was significantly higher than the combined placebo arms (73.3%). Curcumin caused higher rate of clearance (81.3%) than placebo though the difference was not statistically significant. Vaginal irritation and itching, mostly mild to moderate, was significantly higher after Basant application. No serious adverse events were noted.

• Authors: Partha Basu, Sankhadeep Dutta, Rakiba Begum, Srabani Mittal, Paromita Das Dutta, Alok Chandra Bharti, Chinmay Kumar Panda, Jaydip Biswas, Bindu Dey, Gursaran Prashad Talwar, Bhudev Chandra Das
• Journal: Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP (Asian Pac J Cancer Prev) Vol. 14 Issue 10 Pg. 5753-9 ( 2013) ISSN: 2476-762X [Electronic] Thailand
• PMID: 24289574 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Phase II, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Plant Extracts
• Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies
• Curcumin

Topics

• Adult
• Cervix Uteri (drug effects, virology)
• Curcumin (therapeutic use)
• Female
• Humans
• Papanicolaou Test (methods)
• Papillomaviridae (drug effects)
• Papillomavirus Infections (drug therapy, virology)
• Plant Extracts (therapeutic use)
• Plants, Medicinal
• Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies (therapeutic use)
• Vaginal Smears (methods)