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Curcumin and Fennel Essential Oil Improve Symptoms and Quality of Life in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Open accessAbstract
Background & Aims: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) patients still require effective treatment. The anti-inflammatory property of curcumin and the antispasmodic and carminative effect of fennel suggests that combination of these nutraceutical compounds would be useful in functional bowel disorders including IBS. We assessed the efficacy and tolerability of a combination of curcumin and fennel essential oil (CU-FEO) in IBS symptoms relief. Methods: 121 patients with mild-to-moderate symptoms of IBS defined by an Irritable Bowel Syndrome- symptom severity score (IBS-SSS) 100-300 and abdominal pain score 30-70 on a 100 mm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), were randomly assigned to CU-FEO or placebo (2 capsules b.d. for 30 days). Primary endpoint was the mean decrease of IBS-SSS at the end of the treatment corrected for the mean baseline score (relative decrease). The impact of the treatment on quality of life was assessed through IBS-QoL questionnaire. Results: CU-FEO was safe, well-tolerated and induced symptom relief in patients with IBS; a significant decrease in the mean relative IBS-SSS was observed after 30 days of treatment (50.05 ± 28.85% vs 26.12 ± 30.62%, P<0.001). This result matched the reduction of abdominal pain and all the other symptoms of IBS-SSS. The percentage of symptom-free patients was significantly higher in the CU-FEO than in the placebo group (25.9% vs. 6.8%, P = 0.005). All domains of IBS-QoL improved consistently. Conclusion: CU-FEO significantly improved symptoms and quality of life in IBS patients over 30 days. Abbreviations: AEs: adverse events; CU-FEO: Curcumin-Fennel Essential Oil; GI: gastrointestinal; IBS: irritable bowel syndrome; IBS-D: irritable bowel syndrome-diarrhea; IBS-C: irritable bowel syndrome-constipation; IBS-SSS: Irritable Bowel Syndrome – symptom severity score; NF-kB: nuclear factor-κB; QoL: quality of life; UC: ulcerative colitis; VAS, Visual Analogue Scale.
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“A randomized, placebo-controlled trial assessing the efficacy and tolerability of a combination of curcumin and fennel essential oil, named CU-FEO, in 121 patients with mild-to-moderate IBS observed a reduction in abdominal pain and other IBS symptoms, assessed as a reduction in IBS-SSS, as well as an improvement of general quality of life after 30 days of treatment [83].”
From Natural Remedies for Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Comprehensive Review of Herbal-Based Therapies (2025) · cites this paper as [83]
In the citing paper
“In conclusion, fennel essential oil and its bioactive components may alleviate IBS symptoms by relaxing intestinal smooth muscle, reducing visceral hypersensitivity through anti-inflammatory and neuro-modulatory effects, and promoting a healthier gut microbiota balance [83].”
From Natural Remedies for Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Comprehensive Review of Herbal-Based Therapies (2025) · cites this paper as [83]
In the citing paper
“Additionally, certain herbal treatments, like combinations of curcumin and fennel oil, have been demonstrated to induce improvements in validated scores assessing IBS symptoms and quality of life.”
From Natural Remedies for Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Comprehensive Review of Herbal-Based Therapies (2025) · cites this paper as [83]
In the citing paper
“It also appears safe and well-tolerated, with no adverse events reported in the available trials.”
From A Meta-Analysis of the Clinical Use of Curcumin for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) (2018) · cites this paper as [28]
In the citing paper
“It was encouraging that curcumin had demonstrated positive effects in the other two placebo-controlled trials [24,28], which recruited male and female patients with at least moderate symptom severity (IBS-SSS ranging from 250 to 300).”
From A Meta-Analysis of the Clinical Use of Curcumin for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) (2018) · cites this paper as [28]
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Citations
Cites
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Rifaximin Therapy for Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome without Constipation
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“The IBS QoL questionnaire [31] was used as a self-reported measure to assess the impact of the treatment on QoL and completed at baseline and at the end of treatment.”
MethodCurcumin: Getting Back to the Roots
SHISHODIA, S., SETHI, G., & AGGARWAL, B. B. (2005) · Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1196/annals.1352.010 · Cited by 715
Ford, A. C., Moayyedi, P., Lacy, B. E., Lembo, A. J., Saito, Y. A., Schiller, L. R., Soffer, E., Spiegel, B. M. R., & Quigley, E. M. M. (2014) · The American Journal of Gastroenterology · doi:10.1038/ajg.2014.187 · Cited by 670
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Luo, M., Huang, J., Wang, Y., Li, Y., Liu, Z., Liu, M., Tao, Y., Cao, R. F., 柴倩云, Liu, J., et al. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26697342
Irritable bowel syndrome and dietary supplements
Δάμα, Θ. Γ., & Δάμα, Θ. Γ. (2025) · University of Thessaly Institutional Repository (University of Thessaly)
Torbacka, E., Siedlecki, R., Góral, M., Fidorowicz, D., Sagan, D., Sergiel, K. H., Skuza, A. I., Downar-Zapolska, M., Mikłaszewicz, A., & Bednarczuk, K. (2026) · International Journal of Innovative Technologies in Social Science · doi:10.31435/ijitss.2(50).2026.5482
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Metadata
- Authors
- Portincasa, P., Bonfrate, L., Scribano, M., Kohn, A., Caporaso, N., Festi, D., Campanale, M. C., Di Rienzo, T., Guarino, M., Taddia, M., Fogli, M. V., Grimaldi, M., & Gasbarrini, A.
- Affiliations
- University of Bari Aldo Moro (IT)
- Azienda Ospedaliera San Camillo-Forlanini (IT)
- Federico II University Hospital (IT)
- University of Bologna (IT)
- Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (IT)
- ORCID
- Venue
- Journal of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases
- Published
- 2016-06-01
- Volume
- 25
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 151-157
- ISSN
- 1221-4167 (ISSN-L)
- 1842-1121
- 1841-8724
- OpenAlex
- W2469611409
- Cited by
- 109
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 8
- FWCI
- 6.34
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- diamond
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Archivio istituzionale della ricerca (Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna) (submittedVersion)
- CINECA IRIS Institutional Research Information System (University of Bari Aldo Moro) (submittedVersion)
- INFM-OAR (INFN Catania) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Medicine › Curcumin's Biomedical Applications
- Keywords
- irritable bowel syndrome, curcumin, fennel essential oil, nutraceutical combination, symptom severity, quality of life, abdominal pain, IBS-SSS, IBS-QOL, anti-inflammatory agents, antispasmodic agents, functional bowel disorders
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Curcumin, Double-Blind Method, Drug Combinations, Female, Gastrointestinal Agents, Humans, Italy, Male, Phytotherapy, Middle Aged, Oils, Volatile, Plant Oils, Plants, Medicinal, Quality of Life, Surveys and Questionnaires, Remission Induction, Severity of Illness Index, Time Factors, Treatment Outcome, Foeniculum, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Young Adult
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