Curcuma longa is an extract from the root of turmeric, a commonly used spice. It has also been used as a healing agent in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. Recently, its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal properties and antioxidant effects have been studied extensively. A study by P. L. Ravishankar compared curcumin gel to a prescription antibiotic gel when used to help patients with gum disease heal after a deep cleaning and found even better results for curcumin with a greater reduction in gum pockets and plaque.