Abstract
Background. Curcumin, the main curcuminoid found in turmeric, is one of the most promising candidates for the treatment of inflammatory and rheumatic diseases. This study analysed retracted and corrected publications on the anti-inflammatory and anti-rheumatic properties of turmeric.Methods. We used data exports from the Retraction Watch database to analyse retracted and corrected publications in curcumin and turmeric research. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis and identified all relevant publications on curcumin and turmeric by title, with no restrictions on publication dates. The analysis included fields such as title, Digital Object Identifier (DOI), number of authors, publication and retraction dates, journal title, publisher, country, article type, subject area, nature of the notification, and reasons for retraction. We reported time between publication and retraction.Results. A total of 123 retraction-related records corresponding to 113 unique publications; by notice type, 105 were retracted, 11 corrected, and 7 expressions of concern. The highest number of retractions was recorded in 2023 (n=21) and 2022 (n=15). The median number of authors was 6 (range 2–20). The average time from the date of publication to retraction was 963 days. The leading countries by corresponding authors were China (n=63), the United States (n=28), and India (n=21). The main reasons for retraction were data-related issues (n=74), duplication (n=57), and authorship issues/disputes (n=28). Sixteen reports mentioned involvement of paper mills. Twelve reports referred to inflammatory diseases or arthritis.Conclusion. Retractions in curcumin and turmeric research have increased due to data integrity and duplication issues, with retractions peaking in 2022 and 2023. Some retracted publications are cited in systematic reviews on curcumin use for arthritis and inflammatory diseases.