Introduction

Oral care has received greater attention in recent years as oral diseases are widely prevalent across the globe. There is an increasing interest in using natural alternatives for the prevention or treatment of oral diseases. Several natural products used in the Indian System of Ayurvedic Medicine are being reevaluated to determine their efficacy as an alternative therapy for the treatment of oral diseases and to relieve the side effects of drug regimens. Antioxidant supplements, with their anti-inflammatory properties, exert beneficial effects and may provide good support for maintaining oral health.

Curcumin, a natural compound present in Curcuma longa (turmeric) rhizomes, a member of the ginger family Zingiberaceae, has gained increasing global recognition for its multiple health benefits, particularly its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. However, due to some factors like poor solubility, bioavailability, and bright yellow color, Sabinsa’s research team has developed C3 Reduct® (tetrahydrocurcuminoids (THCs)), with better bioavailability and colorless form, which is widely acceptable by the consumers. The next generation of curcuminoids, C3 Reduct® is the hydrogenated derivative of the curcuminoids from Curcumin C3 Complex® and standardized to contain a minimum of 95% Tetrahydrocurcuminoids (THCs). In addition to Tetrahydrocurcumin, Tetrahydrodemethoxycurcumin and Tetrahydrobisdemethoxycurcumin are the other two major reductive metabolites of curcuminoids present in C3 Reduct®. It is reported that Curcumin is metabolized in the human body by an enzyme from E. coli named CurA (NADPH-dependent curcumin/dihydrocurcumin reductase), which reduces curcumin to dihydrocurcumin (DHC) and the subsequent reduction of DHC to THC (1).

Two clinical studies have confirmed the effectiveness of C3 Reduct® in oral care, found it to be safe and effective in the management of gingivitis, canker sore, and oral leukoplakia. In an open label, prospective, two arm clinical trial involving 30 subjects with canker sores (painful ulcers in the mouth or at the base of the gums) and 29 subjects with gingivitis (a gum disease associated with bleeding), supplementation with 100 mg chewable tablet of C3 Reduct® twice daily for 3 weeks showed remarkable improvement. In canker sore individuals, supplementation with C3 Reduct® resulted in a significant reduction in redness, burning sensation, and throat numbness within 14 days and after the end of the study. In addition, throat pain, difficulty in chewing/swallowing, and VAS pain score were also relieved in these individuals with the disappearance of both single and multiple lesions.

Formulation and Usage

Conclusion