Clearance of Cervical Human Papillomavirus Infection by Topical Application of Curcumin and Curcumin Containing Polyherbal Cream: A Phase II Randomized Controlled Study

Curcumin and curcumin containing polyherbal preparations have demonstrated anti-microbial and antiviralproperties in pre-clinical studies. Till date no therapeutic intervention has been proved to be effective andsafe in clearing established cervical human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. The present study evaluated theefficacy of Basant polyherbal vaginal cream (containing extracts of curcumin, reetha, amla and aloe vera) andof curcumin vaginal capsules to eliminate HPV infection from cervix. Women were screened by Pap smear andHPV DNA test by PCR. HPV positive women without high grade cervical neoplasias (N=287) were randomizedto four intervention arms to be treated with vaginal Basant cream, vaginal placebo cream, curcumin vaginalcapsules and placebo vaginal capsules respectively. All subjects were instructed to use one application of theassigned formulation daily for 30 consecutive days except during menstruation and recalled within seven daysof 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, mostlymild to moderate, was significantly higher after Basant application. No serious adverse events were noted.