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

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Persian medicine; complementary therapies; curcumin; plant extracts; wound healing.