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A Scoping Review of Clinical Trials on the Efficacy of Curcumin and Its Formulations for Wound Healing.

  • 2025-12
  • Journal of cosmetic dermatology 24(12)
    • Mohammad Mahdi Parvizi
    • Ali Arefkia
    • Yasamin Dehghan
    • Mohammad Ali Salimi
    • Negin Fazelzadeh Haghighi

Study Design

Type
Systematic Review
Sample size
n = 920
Population
humans with wounds
Methods
scoping review of clinical trials on various forms of curcumin for wound healing, conducted in accordance with PRISMA-ScR guidelines, searching PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library from January 1, 2000 to May 31, 2025

Background

Curcumin, the main component of turmeric, may be effective in wound healing due to its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects. Although pre-clinical studies are promising, a comprehensive clinical review is lacking. This scoping review examines clinical trials on the efficacy of curcumin in wound healing.

Method

This study was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines and involved a comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases for clinical trials on various forms of curcumin for wound healing in humans, from January 1, 2000 to May 31, 2025.

Results

A total of 920 results were retrieved through the search, of which 19 clinical trials met the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria and were included in our study. Most studies (14 out of 19) were randomized controlled trials. Curcumin was used in various dosages and treatment durations, and in multiple forms, including topical and oral formulations. Curcumin improved wound healing compared to placebo or conventional care in 89% of the studies. Additionally, no adverse events were reported in 84% of the studies, with minor and temporary side effects observed in the remaining cases.

Conclusions

According to the findings of the current study, curcumin is a safe and effective adjuvant for improving wound healing. However, the significant heterogeneity observed among clinical trials limits the ability to develop consistent treatment guidelines. Future studies should focus on large-scale, standardized trials to better define the role of curcumin in wound care.

Research Insights

  • Turmeric→Improved Wound Healing

    Curcumin improved wound healing compared to placebo or conventional care in 89% of the studies.

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Moderate
    Dose
    various dosages and treatment durations, in multiple forms, including topical and oral formulations

Adverse Events Reported

  • Turmeric→Overall tolerability

    Additionally, no adverse events were reported in 84% of the studies, with minor and temporary side effects observed in the remaining cases.

    Finding
    Reported
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