|
June 2023
Curcumin for
COVID-19: 24 studies from 211 scientists and 5,071
patients in 8 countries
c19curcumin.com | June 2023
Curcumin reduces risk for COVID-19 with very high confidence for
mortality, hospitalization, recovery, and in pooled analysis,
high confidence for viral clearance. Statistically significant
improvements are seen for mortality, hospitalization,
progression, recovery, and viral clearance. Statistically
significant improvements are seen for mortality,
hospitalization, progression, recovery, and viral clearance. 16
studies from 14 independent teams in 6 different countries show
statistically significant improvements in isolation (9 for the
most serious outcome). Meta analysis
using the most serious outcome reported shows 41% improvement.
Results are similar for Randomized Controlled Trials, similar
after exclusions, and similar for peer-reviewed studies. Other
meta analyses for curcumin can be found in [Kow, Shafiee,
Shojaei, Vahedian-Azimi], showing significant improvements for
mortality, hospitalization, recovery, and symptoms.
Curcumin inhibits proliferation of hepatocellular
carcinoma cells by blocking PTPN1 and PTPN11 expression
Oncology Letters | June 2023
Curcumin was demonstrated to
inhibit the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma cells tumors in
mice. Immunohistochemistry results demonstrated that the protein
expression levels of PTPN1 and PTPN11 in the curcumin group were
significantly lower compared with those in the control group. In
conclusion, these results demonstrated that curcumin inhibits
the proliferation of HCC cells by inhibiting the expression of
PTPN1 and PTPN11.
Pharmacological
Mechanisms and Clinical Applications of Curcumin: Update
Aging and Disease | June 2023
Curcumin, a
well-known hydrophobic polyphenol extracted from the rhizomes of
turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), has attracted great interest in the
last ten years due to its multiple pharmacological activities. A
growing body of evidence has manifested that curcumin has
extensive pharmacological activities including
anti-inflammatory, anti-oxygenation, lipid regulation,
antiviral, and anticancer with hypotoxicity and minor adverse
reactions. By reviewing the latest research progress of
curcumin, we believe that curcumin has a broad clinical
application prospect for its wide range of pharmacological
activities with few side effects.
Effect of curcumin on rheumatoid arthritis: a
systematic review and meta-analysis
Frontiers in Immunology | June 2023
Curcumin is beneficial
for rheumatoid arthritis treatment. Inflammation levels and
clinical symptoms in patients with rheumatoid arthritis can be
improved by curcumin supplementation. Large sample randomized
controlled trials on the effects of curcumin on patients with
rheumatoid arthritis are needed in the future. Curcumin is the
most important chemical component of turmeric, which can exert
antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic and anti-tumor
pharmacological effects without significant adverse effects.
Previous studies have shown that curcumin and curcuminoids in
turmeric could provide good protection against many chronic
diseases in the body by inhibiting inflammatory responses,
lowering blood lipids, and improving blood sugar. Curcumin in
turmeric can effectively inhibit inflammatory reactions and
reduce symptoms such as pain and swelling. In recent years, it
was found that curcumin could alleviate some symptoms in some
autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and
inflammatory bowel disease. The researchers have conducted
numerous studies to evaluate the pharmacological effects and
clinical applications of turmeric and curcumin on rheumatoid
arthritis treatment. Curcumin, a pure natural compound derived
from the roots of turmeric, is one of the most active components
of polyphenolic curcuminoids. Curcumin compound has been found
to exert anticancer effects on a variety of molecular mechanisms
through Nrf2 regulation. Curcumin is effectively used for
obesity therapy because it is a lipophilic molecule that can
rapidly penetrate cell membranes, and may be associated with
lipid metabolism, gut microbiota, and anti-inflammatory
potential. Curcumin is also known as “seasoning of life” by its
well-known antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant,
antitumor, antifungal and pro-apoptotic effects. Curcumin has
been shown to improve symptoms and delay disease cycles in
rheumatoid arthritis patients. The multiple double bonds
in curcumin endow it with trapping free radical electrons,
antioxidant activity and anti-inflammatory effects. Curcumin is
beneficial for rheumatoid arthritis treatment. Inflammation
levels and clinical symptoms in patients with rheumatoid
arthritis can be improved by curcumin supplementation.
Curcumin inhibits colon cancer malignant progression
and promotes T cell killing by regulating miR-206 expression
Clinical Anatomy | June 2023
Curcumin, as a traditional
Chinese medicine extract with anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory
effects, can affect the development of diverse human diseases
including cancer. Curcumin treatment restrained proliferation
and accelerated apoptosis of colon cancer cells. It elevated
miR-206 expression, which in turn affected colon cancer cell
function. miR-206 enhanced colon cancer cell apoptosis and
inhibited PD-L1 expression; thus, curcumin enhanced the killing
effect of T cells on tumor cells by suppressing PD-L1 through
inhibiting the JAK/STAT3 pathway. Patients with high expression
of miR-206 had better survival rates than those with low
expression. Curcumin can regulate miR-206 expression and inhibit
the malignant behavior of colon cancer cells and enhance T cell
killing through the JAK/STAT3 pathway.
Turmeric supplementation improves markers of
recovery in elite male footballers: a pilot study
Frontiers in Nutrition | June 2023
Curcumin, a natural
polyphenol found in high concentrations in turmeric, has
anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and analgesic properties, making
it a candidate to accelerate post-exercise recovery.
Laboratory-based studies of cycling, running and eccentric
loading protocols (e.g., downhill running, eccentric resistance
exercises), have shown that curcumin supplementation before and
after an exercise period can reduce subjective soreness,
attenuate haematological inflammatory markers, and improve
subsequent exercise performance. However, there is an absence of
applied studies in elite cohorts, likely due, in part, to
challenges associated with conducting research in elite cohorts.
One study, in elite rugby players, found that curcumin
attenuated muscle damage and limited loss of muscle function
after a muscle damaging protocol, while one other study in youth
team male footballers found that curcumin attenuated DOMS and
loss of muscle function after match-play. The supplement
also contained piperine, an adjuvant that can greatly improve
bioavailability of curcumin. High doses of curcumin (up to 12 g
per day) are pharmacologically safe and well tolerated in
humans. Piperine slows the metabolism of curcumin by inhibiting
hepatic and intestinal glucuronidation. Previous studies have
shown that administering curcumin with piperine can increase
serum concentrations of curcumin by up to 2000%, indicating that
glucuronidation inhibition may be the major mechanism of
increasing curcumin bioavailability. As such, the formulation of
the supplement administered in the current study, which
contained 35 g of raw turmeric root, (estimated to contain
1,400 mg of curcumin) and 10 mg of piperine, may have helped to
increase serum concentrations of curcumin such that it could
exert its biological action, whilst the mode of administration
may have encouraged greater adherence.
Cardioprotective effect of curcumin on myocardial
ischemia/reperfusion injury: a meta-analysis of preclinical
animal studies
Frontiers in Pharmacology |
June 2023
A total of 38 studies were included in this
meta-analysis, and the results suggested that curcumin
significantly reduced the myocardial IS, improved cardiac
function parameters, downregulated serum myocardial enzyme,
improved antioxidant ability, decreased serum inflammatory
cytokines, and myocardial apoptosis index. In conclusion, our
results demonstrated a significant cardioprotective effect of
curcumin at multiple levels in animal models of myocardial I/R
injury. The results of this study showed that curcumin
significantly reduces myocardial IS, improves cardiac function,
downregulates myocardial enzyme levels, inhibits oxidative
stress, decreased serum inflammatory cytokines, and myocardial
apoptosis index to play a cardioprotective role in animal models
of myocardial I/R injury. This meta-analysis suggests that
curcumin has excellent potential for the treatment of myocardial
I/R injury in animal models. Curcumin treatment significantly
improved myocardial infarction size standard mean difference
(SMD) = −5.65; 95% confidence interval. In addition, curcumin
treatment improved cardiac function, myocardial injury enzymes,
and oxidative stress levels in animal models of myocardial I/R
injury. The results showed that curcumin treatment downregulated
serum inflammatory cytokine levels and myocardial apoptosis
index. Conclusion: This meta-analysis suggests that curcumin has
excellent potential for the treatment of myocardial I/R injury
in animal models. Curcumin was proven to be well tolerated at
high oral doses (12 g/d) and was generally considered to be safe
(Lao et al., 2006; Gupta et al., 2013; Prasad et al., 2014).
Recent studies have shown that curcumin protects cardiomyocytes
from myocardial I/R injury through multiple and diverse
mechanisms (Wang et al., 2018a; Mokhtari-Zaer et al., 2018; Wu
et al., 2021a; Pawar et al., 2022). Curcumin has been shown to
improve cardiac function after myocardial I/R injury by reducing
extracellular matrix degradation and inhibiting collagen
synthesis via the TGFβ/Smad signaling pathway (Wang et al.,
2012). In addition, curcumin attenuates oxidative damage and
inhibits cardiomyocyte apoptosis by activating the JAK2/STAT3
signaling pathway, thereby ameliorating myocardial I/R injury
(Liu et al., 2017a).
Curcumin as a therapeutic agent in cancer therapy:
Focusing on its modulatory effects on circular RNAs
Phytotherapy Research | June 2023
Curcumin, a natural
polyphenol compound, has been identified as an effective
therapeutic agent against cancer that exerts its anti-tumor
activities by up/downregulating signaling mediators and
modulating various cellular processes, including angiogenesis,
autophagy, apoptosis, metastasis, and epithelial–mesenchymal
transition (EMT). Since almost 98% of genomic transcriptional
production is noncoding RNAs in humans, there is evidence that
curcumin exerts therapeutic effects through the alterations of
noncoding RNAs in various types of cancers. It has been shown
that curcumin modulated various circRNAs. In this article, we
reviewed the pharmacokinetics of curcumin, its anti-cancer
activities, as well as the biology and structure of circRNAs.
Our main focus was on how curcumin exerts anti-cancer functions
by modulating circRNAs and their target mRNAs and pathways.
Curcumin activates a ROS/KEAP1/NRF2/miR-34a/b/c
cascade to suppress colorectal cancer metastasis
Cell Death & Differentiation | June 2023
Curcumin is a
polyphenol derived from the rhizome of the turmeric plant
(Curcuma longa) and has been a popular food additive in Eastern
cuisine. In addition, it has been used for centuries in
traditional Chinese and ayurvedic medicine. Notably, curcumin
has potential as a preventive and therapeutic agent for CRC, as
it suppresses many hallmarks of cancer cells and exhibited
promising effects in preclinical and clinical studies. For
example, the addition of daily oral curcumin to FOLFOX
chemotherapy (folic acid/5-fluorouracil/oxaliplatin)
significantly prolonged the progression-free survival and
overall survival) of patients with metastatic CRC. Moreover,
curcumin showed improved erytrocyte sedimentation rate and
C-reactive protein/CRP serum levels of in stage 3 CRC patients
and improved their quality of life. Daily oral curcumin given to
patients with advanced colorectal cancer refractory to standard
chemotherapy, resulted in stable disease in 5 of 15 individuals
within 4 months of follow-up evaluation. When curcumin was given
in combination with mesalamine it resulted in remissions of
patients with ulcerative colitis/UC. Furthermore, in familial
adenomatous polyposis/FAP patients a combination of curcumin and
quercetin reduced the number and size of ileal and rectal
adenomas without appreciable toxicity. As the clinical studies
only included small numbers of patients, larger, targeted and
prospective clinical trials are required to establish curcumin
in clinical practice. Curcumin was shown to affect the
expression of non-coding RNAs in CRC cells. Also miR-34a, a
p53-inducible microRNA with tumor-suppressive capacities, was
induced by exposure to curcumin. our results provide a plausible
mechanism for the effects that have been ascribed to curcumin in
the prevention and therapy of colorectal cancer and other
malignancies. The members of the miR-34 family are frequently
silenced in colorectal tumors by DNA methylation. There is
evidence that curcumin can reactivate CpG methylated genes.
Therefore, CpG-methylation of miR-34a/b/c is presumably not an
obstacle for treatment of CRC with curcumin. Originally this
study was intended to determine the mode of action of curcumin
during tumor prevention. In that scenario, miR-34a/b/c should
not be silenced by CpG-methylation. We showed that the
anti-tumor effects of curcumin are less pronounced in
miR-34-deficient cells. Therefore, it will be important to
investigate the in vivo effects of curcumin on CRC treatment and
prevention with respect to miR-34 expression in the future. For
example, future experiments should include the treatment of wt
and miR-34 knockout mouse models of CRC with curcumin and/or
chemotherapy. Howells et al. showed in a phase IIa clinical
study that the addition of curcumin to FOLFOX treatment
significantly improved the progression free and overall
survival. The addition of curcumin to cancer therapy is of great
interest, since a phase I clinical study showed that the
addition of curcumin to FOLFOX treatment is safe and tolerable
in patients with metastatic CRC at doses up to 2 grams daily.
Moreover, oral consumption of up to 3600 mg curcumin leads to
curcumin concentrations in human colorectal mucosa which are in
the range of the concentration used in this study. In the
future, the findings presented here may be exploited for the
development of therapeutic approaches that aim at restoring the
tumor suppressive function of the p53/miR-34 pathway.
Curcumin
Enhances the Abscopal Effect in Mice with Colorectal Cancer by
Acting as an Immunomodulator
Pharmaceutics
| June 2023
Curcumin has been shown to exert anti-tumor and
immunomodulatory properties in several studies. Curcumin
suppresses tumor growth by generating reactive oxygen species
(ROS) and inducing apoptosis. Curcumin triggers apoptosis in
HCT-116 cells by inhibiting NF-κB activation and downstream
pathways. Curcumin has been found to cause more DNA damage and
cell deaths in Panc-1 and MiaPaCa-2 cells when combined with RT.
Additionally, curcumin exerts immunomodulation potential and
slows tumor progression. For instance, curcumin augments tumor
inhibition by enhancing the proliferation and activation of T
cells. Curcumin can also suppress tumor growth by repressing the
generation and activity of TGF-β-induced regulatory T cells. We
chose curcumin for combination treatment due to its anti-tumor
and immunomodulatory abilities. Curcumin has been found to
repress the expression of NF-κB and PD-L1. Liao et al. reported
that curcumin suppresses PD-L1 levels and improves the tumor
immune microenvironment in tongue squamous cell carcinoma. The
results showed that combining curcumin with RT resulted in the
most significant tumor inhibition in primary and secondary
tumors. This finding suggests that curcumin has the potential to
enhance the abscopal effect and improve treatment outcomes.
Curcumin has been found to improve the effectiveness of
different treatments in various cancers. For example, Hussain et
al. summarized that curcumin can augment the efficacy of
cisplatin and reduce treatment resistance by increasing ROS
generation and triggering apoptosis cascades in multiple cancer
types. A combination of curcumin and doxorubicin has also been
shown to help tumor control by disturbing cell cycle progression
and the balance between apoptosis and anti-apoptosis in head and
neck cancer. Curcumin has also been combined with FLLFOX
chemotherapy for treating patients with metastatic colorectal
cancer, resulting in significant improvement in overall and
progression-free survival. However, further research is needed
to fully elucidate the mechanisms underlying the beneficial
effects of curcumin in cancer treatment. Curcumin enhances
radiosensitivity by regulating epigenetics, DNA damage repair,
and apoptosis in various cancers, including nasopharyngeal
cancer, bladder cancer, and glioblastoma. Curcumin can also
enhance radiotherapy through anti-inflammatory mechanisms.
Additionally, curcumin may enhance radiotherapy through
anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Our findings demonstrate that
curcumin enhances the abscopal effect in a bilateral CT26
tumor-bearing mouse model by suppressing NF-κB and downstream
proteins, elevating IL-1β and IL-6, and modulating the overall
tumor immune microenvironment, thereby enhancing tumor
suppression. We also validated that curcumin enhances RT
outcomes and boosts the anti-tumoral immune responses in
bilateral CT26-luc tumor-bearing mice by performing a
biodistribution study of 111In-DOTA-anti-OX40 mAb, ELISA assay,
and Western blot. These results suggest that curcumin acts as an
immunomodulator to improve RT outcomes.
Effect
of Curcumin and Coenzyme Q10 Alone and in Combination on
Learning and Memory in an Animal Model of Alzheimer’s Disease
Biomedicines | June 2023
Curcumin has a
wide range of biological and pharmacological effects, including
those that are antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant,
anti-tumour, anti-protozoa, and anti-HIV. This has been
demonstrated by modern medicine. According to the Joint Nations
and World Health Organization Expert Committee on Food Additives
(JECFA), curcumin is regarded as a safe chemical and is hence
appropriate for everyday dietary usage. Curcumin is a viable
drug candidate for the treatment of complicated disorders such
as Alzheimer’s disease and its related cognitive loss because of
its pleiotropic effects and good safety profile. Curcumin has
demonstrated a dose–response relationship, with a higher dose
(200 mg/kg b.w. p.o.) being more effective than a lower dose
(100 mg/kg b.w. p.o.). We may infer from our results that
curcumin at higher doses and its combination with coenzyme Q10
have a significant impact on cognitive impairment in animal
models of Alzheimer’s disease and can be utilised alone or as an
add-on therapy for the condition. The bioavailability of
curcumin was significantly increased by 2000% when 20 mg of
piperine, which is extracted from black pepper, was also taken
as a supplement. Curcumin has a learning and memory
enhancement effect and a higher dose is comparatively more
effective than a lower dose and it has shown a
dose–response effect. The effects of the combination of curcumin
and coenzyme Q10 on learning and memory were significant and
greater than when both drugs were given alone and were
comparable to Memantine. The results of the present study are
encouraging and may reveal the importance of curcumin and
coenzyme Q10 herbal drugs and nutrients in impaired cognition
states. As a result, curcumin, coenzyme Q10, and their
combination, which has demonstrated the greatest benefit, may be
effective in the management of learning- and memory-impaired
states as an alternative, supplemental, or even preventive
medication. These medications, alone or in combination, can be
taken by patients of any age for a longer period of time without
experiencing any negative side effects.
Journal of Pharmaceutical Research Curcumin from
turmeric is an extremely efficient agent in increasing
cholesterol uptake by the liver cells
Journal of Pharmaceutical Research | May 2023
Curcuma longa
decreased total cholesterol, TG, LDL cholesterol 16.10, 20.01,
and 17.59 mg/dl respectively. Curcuma longa, Fenugreek leaves
and Lemon are mild to moderately effective hypolipidemic herbs
to lower total plasma cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL
cholesterol. Curcumin reduces both the oxidation and circulation
of oxidized levels of LDL cholesterol which leads to reduction
in the occurrence or treatment of already present
atherosclerosis in the subjects. Research has revealed that
curcumin from turmeric is an extremely efficient agent in
increasing cholesterol uptake by the liver cells. Several
independent studies have shown that curcumin increases the
expression of cholesterol and lipoprotein receptors on the liver
cells. Curcumin also in- creases cholesterol and bile acids
excretion in feces. Additionally, curcumin also increases the
amount of ABC (ATP-binding cassette) transporters. Phenolics in
Curcuma Longa have potential health benefits mainly due to their
antioxidant properties such as reactive oxygen species (ROS)
scavenging and inhibition, electrophile scavenging and metal
chelation.
Curcumin
Attenuates Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness and Muscle Function
Deficits Following a Soccer Match in Male Professional Soccer
Players
International Journal of Sports
Physiology and Performance | May 2023
Curcumin attenuated
deficits in CMJ (P ≤ .004) and RSI (P ≤ .001) and reduced
Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness (P ≤ .004) at all postmatch time
points (except 60 h post for RSI). The greatest difference
between control and curcumin was 12 hours post for CMJ
(P < .001, 1.91 [4.40] cm, 95% CI, 1.25 to 2.57, g = 0.36) and
RSI (P = .003, 0.40 [0.41] AU, 95% CI, 0.17 to 0.63, g = 0.90)
and 36 hours post for Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness (P < .001,
47 [23] mm, 95% CI, −67 to −27, g = 2.12). Conclusions: Curcumin
intake <36 hours after a soccer match attenuated Delayed-Onset
Muscle Soreness and muscle function deficits, suggesting that
curcumin may aid recovery in professional male soccer players.
The
effects of curcumin on astrocytes in common neurodegenerative
conditions
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal
Chemistry | May 2023
Curcumin, with multiple special
properties, has been effectively prescribed to manage various
diseases. It has hepato-protective, anti-carcinogenic,
cardio-protective, thrombo-suppressive, anti-inflammatory,
chemo-therapeutic, anti-arthritic, chemo-preventive, and
anti-oxidant activities. In the current review, the effects of
curcumin on astrocytes in common neurodegenerative conditions,
such as Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,
multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's
disease, are discussed. Hence, it can be concluded that
astrocytes play a critical role in neurodegenerative diseases,
and curcumin is able to directly modulate astrocyte activity in
neurodegenerative diseases.
Curcumin reduces paclitaxel resistance in ovarian
carcinoma cells by upregulating SNIP1 and inhibiting NFκB
activity
Biochemical Pharmacology | May
2023
Curcumin inhibits NFκB activity by modulating the
EGR1/SNIP1 axis to attenuate p65 acetylation and protein
stability in Txr cells. These findings provide a new mechanism
to account for the effects of curcumin in inducing apoptosis and
reducing paclitaxel resistance in ovarian cancer cells. Curcumin
has been described as having unique anticancer activity,
including inducing apoptosis and inhibiting proliferation and
invasion of tumors by suppressing a variety of cellular
signaling pathways. It was reported that curcumin induced cell
apoptosis and increased paclitaxel sensitivity by interfering
with NFκB, p53, and caspase-3 signaling. Moreover, curcumin’s
anticancer properties have primarily been attributed to blocking
the transcriptional factor NFκB activity. Curcumin, a dietary
phytochemical obtained from the dried rhizomes of Curcuma longa
(turmeric), has been used as a food additive and as a form of
traditional herbal medicine. In combination with 5-fluorouracil
(5-FU), docetaxel, or paclitaxel, curcumin significantly
enhanced chemotherapy sensitivity and produced significant
health benefits]. The anticancer properties of curcumin have
been primarily attributed to its ability to block the
transcriptional factor NFκB, which is a master regulator of
inflammation, cell proliferation, apoptosis, and drug
resistance. Therefore, curcumin may be used against
paclitaxel-resistant cancer cells induced by TLR4 signaling,
which activates NFκB and upregulates downstream taxol-resistance
genes. In addition, curcumin has been reported to inhibit NFκB
activity.
Effects of Curcumin on Axon Growth and Myelin Sheath
Formation in an In Vitro Model
Neurochemical Research | May 2023
Although the beneficial
effects of curcumin, extracted from rhizomes of the ginger
family genus Curcuma, on the repair and regeneration of nerves
have been evaluated in vitro, there are few studies concerning
its effects on axon myelination. We found a significant increase
in expression of all six proteins following curcumin treatment,
with a corresponding increase in the levels of MBP, MPZ,
Krox-20, and Oct-6 mRNA. The results suggested that curcumin can
promote the growth of axons by upregulating the expression of
GAP-43 and MAP-2, stimulate synthesis and secretion of
myelin-related proteins, and facilitate formation of the myelin
sheath in axons by upregulating the expression of Krox-20 and
Oct-6. Therefore, curcumin could be widely applied in future
strategies for the treatment of nerve injuries.
Curcumin Improves Diabetic Cardiomyopathy by
Inhibiting Pyroptosis through AKT/Nrf2/ARE Pathway Mediators of
Inflammation
Mediators of Inflammation |
May 2023
Curcumin is a natural antioxidant that protects
cells from inflammatory damage and has therapeutic effects in
diseases such as myocardial, kidney, and liver injuries. Li et
al.’s report found that curcumin can improve mercuric
chloride-induced liver injury through the Nrf2/ARE pathway. Zhao
et al.’s study found that curcumin inhibited autophagic death
caused by HgCl2 through the PI3K/AKT/Nrf2 pathway, thereby
improving spleen damage. Therefore, curcumin is a natural
agonist of Nrf2, which provides a good pharmacological basis for
the treatment of diabetic cardiomyopathy. Current research has
found that curcumin has a good therapeutic effect on the
complications of diabetes. Curcumin can inhibit the NF-κB/p65
pathway in the nervous system of diabetic rats, increasing the
activity of superoxide dismutase and reducing the level of
inflammatory factors. ALTamimi found that curcumin could inhibit
the PKCβ/p66shc axis and activate FOXO-3a, reversing diabetic
nephropathy in rats. The present study found that curcumin can
inhibit the progression of pyroptosis in diabetic
cardiomyopathy, reduce the degree of myocardial fibrosis, and
inhibit the decline of cardiac function by regulating the
AKT/Nrf2/ARE pathway. Therefore, our findings support the
therapeutic potential of curcumin and provide a new theoretical
basis for the treatment of diabetic cardiomyopathy. This study
found that curcumin can promote the transfer of Nrf2 into the
nucleus through the AKT pathway and increase the expression of
the downstream antioxidant factors HO-1 and GCLC. These effects
cleared the accumulation of ROS in diabetic cardiomyocytes,
alleviated mitochondrial damage, inhibited the progression of
pyroptosis, and had a role in the treatment of diabetic
cardiomyopathy.
Curcumin alleviated oxidation stress injury by
mediating osteopontin in nephrolithiasis rats
Acta Cirúrgica Brasileira | May 2023
Curcumin could reduce
the oxidative stress damage caused by EG-induced kidney stones.
Curcumin (Cur) is a polyphenolic substance isolated from the
turmeric rhizome. Curcumin is the main active component of
turmeric, and it has various functions, including antioxidant,
anti-inflammatory, antifibrosis8, antibacterial and antitumor
activities, and protection from oxidative damage in the kidney.
Animal models of oxidative damage to kidney tissue and kidney
stones have proven that curcumin can reduce the expression of
inflammation-related factors, and induce anti-inflammatory
factors to inhibit the activation of the MAPK/ERK, TGF-β/Smad,
and PPAR-γ pathways. In addition, curcumin could induce the
antioxidant response in the kidney, and nuclear factor Nrf2 to
play a regulatory role, inhibit mitochondrial dysfunction,
reduce inflammation and prevent oxidative stress damage. Studies
have shown that curcumin exhibits important renal protection and
stone suppression effects in kidney diseases. The subcutaneous
injection of curcumin could alleviate the oxidative stress
damage of calcium oxalate kidney stones induced by EG within a
specific dose range. Curcumin may dissolve calcium oxalate
stones in the renal tubules of rats and reduce the oxidative
damage of calcium oxalate stones to the kidneys. Therefore,
curcumin could be used as a new drug candidate to treat kidney
stones.
Anti-Allergic
Effect of Dietary Polyphenols Curcumin and Epigallocatechin
Gallate via Anti-Degranulation in IgE/Antigen-Stimulated Mast
Cell Model: A Lipidomics Perspective
Metabolites | May 2023
Both curcumin and EGCG significantly
inhibited degranulation as they suppressed the release of β-hexosaminidase,
interleukin-4, and tumor necrosis factor-α from the
IgE/antigen-stimulated mast cell model. Remodeling patterns
(lipid response and composition) of curcumin intervention were
considerably similar to those of EGCG, lipid metabolism was more
potently disturbed by curcumin. Seventy-eight percent of
significant differential lipids upon IgE/antigen stimulation
could be regulated by curcumin/EGCG. LPC-O 22:0 was defined as a
potential biomarker for its sensitivity to IgE/antigen
stimulation and curcumin/EGCG intervention. The key changes in
diacylglycerols, fatty acids, and bismonoacylglycerophosphates
provided clues that cell signaling disturbances could be
associated with curcumin/EGCG intervention. Our work supplies a
novel perspective for understanding curcumin/EGCG involvement in
antianaphylaxis and helps guide future attempts to use dietary
polyphenols. Curcumin got approved to be “generally recognized
as safe” (GRAS) by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Two typical dietary polyphenols, curcumin and EGCG, were
confirmed to show anti-allergic potential in the present study.
Both curcumin and EGCG significantly suppressed the release of
β-hexosaminidase, IL-4, and TNF-α from IgE/antigen-stimulated
RBL-2H3 cells. As compared to the alteration pattern associated
with IgE/antigen-stimulated degranulation (Veh vs. AG), the
lipidome modulation by curcumin/EGCG could be identified (Cur
vs. AG and EGCG vs. AG). Comprehensive lipidomics analysis
revealed that the ability to disturb lipid metabolism was
stronger with curcumin than EGCG, in accordance with the
superior ability of curcumin to suppress the degranulation
process. These key lipidome disturbances provide novel insights
into the effects of curcumin/EGCG intervention underlying the
progression of degranulation. Our findings open the possibility
of preventing immediate allergic reactions via
antigen-stimulated mast cells in vitro and will help guide
future attempts to use dietary polyphenols.
Curcumin and whey protein concentrate binding:
Thermodynamic and structural approach
Food
Hydrocolloids | May 2023
Curcumin is a natural hydrophobic
polyphenol (Liu, Chen, Cheng, & Selomulya, 2016), first isolated
from the rhizome of turmeric (Curcuma longa), and it has a
varied range of beneficial biological activities. According to
recent studies, it is recognized that curcumin has the ability
to enhance human health, particularly due to its antioxidant,
anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antibacterial and antiviral
activities. For example, it was reported that curcumin reduces
cholesterol and platelet aggregation (Suresh & Srinivasan,
2010), inhibits proliferation of cancer cells (Naksuriya, van
Steenbergen, Torano, Okonogi, & Hennink, 2016; Shabaninejad et
al., 2020; Taebi et al., 2020) and improves digestion (Dulbecco
& Savarino, 2013). In addition, the curcumin , as an antiviral
and anti-inflammatory agent, might be helpful for both
prevention and treatment of COVID 19 (Dhar & Bhattacharjee,
2021; Jennings & Parks, 2020). Overall, the documented
anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of curcumin
(Yadav, Mishra, Singh, Mehrotra, & Singh, 2005) along with the
evidence on its anti-fibrotic effects (Gorabi et al., 2020) on
the lung tissue make it a promising candidate for the treatment
of COVID-19 (Dourado et al., 2021; Manoharan et al., 2020).
Cannabinoid compounds in combination with curcumin
and piperine display an anti-tumorigenic effect against colon
cancer cells
Frontiers in Pharmacology |
May 2023
Evidence supported by experimental findings suggest
that micronutrients such as curcumin and piperine may present a
safer strategy in preventing tumorigenesis and its recurrence.
Recent studies demonstrated that piperine potentiates curcumin’s
inhibitory effect on tumor progression via enhancing its
delivery and therapeutic activity. It is possible to
reduce colorectal cancer death rate by as much as 90% through
inclusion of naturally existing bio-compounds with the
anti-cancer and anti-oxidant characteristics such as curcumin.
It is suggested that curcumin can selectively kill tumor cells
through its multifaceted metabolic effects, that culminate in
its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities (Hewlings and
Kalman, 2017). Several clinical trials classify curcumin as a
potential chemo-preventive and chemotherapeutic agent (Doello et
al., 2018). In exerting its anti-tumorigenic effects,
curcumin blocks angiogenesis, and negatively regulates cancer
cell cycle progression as well as metastatic activity. In
several combinatorial therapy approaches, where a secondary
active drug agent or drug candidate is co-administered with
curcumin, an increase in the therapeutic benefit from curcumin
has been reported in diverse cancer models (Baldi et al., 1839),
(Bolat et al., 2020), (Schmidt et al., 2020). Strikingly, the
second agent turns out to enhance curcumin-dependent anti-cancer
activity in a synergistic fashion in certain cases. Among the
numerous candidates tested so far, curcumin, piperine and
certain types of cannabinoids performed promisingly well in
colon carcinoma models as monotherapy agents. Piperine, a
dietary polyphenol isolated from black and long peppers,
distinguished with its intrinsic features, improves -not
only-curcumin’s existing anti-cancer activity, but also its
extremely poor bioavailability (Tang et al., 2017) (Tang et al.,
2017) As a single agent, piperine alone also displays
anti-mutagenic and anti-tumor activities (Chinta et al., 2015).
For example, this agent can inhibit the proliferation of colon
cancer cell lines via induction of a cell cycle arrest in the G1
phase, while it triggers apoptosis in prostate cancer models (Ouyang
et al., 2013), (Yaffe et al., 2015).
Curcumin can improve spinal cord injury by
inhibiting DNA methylation
Molecular and
Cellular Biochemistry | May 2023
Curcumin is a natural
polyphenol from turmeric. It has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant,
and neuroprotective effects, and can mitigate the cell and
tissue damage caused by spinal cord injury. This report analyzed
the specific functions of DNA methylation in central nervous
system diseases, especially traumatic brain injury and spinal
cord injury. DNA methylation can regulate the level of gene
expressions in the central nervous system. Therefore,
pharmacological interventions regulating DNA methylation may be
promising for spinal cord injury.
Curcumin Improves Diabetic Cardiomyopathy by
Inhibiting Pyroptosis through AKT/Nrf2/ARE Pathway
Mediators of Inflammation | May 2023
Curcumin is a natural
antioxidant that protects cells from inflammatory damage and has
therapeutic effects in diseases such as myocardial, kidney, and
liver injuries. Li et al.’s report found that curcumin can
improve mercuric chloride-induced liver injury through the
Nrf2/ARE pathway. Zhao et al.’s study found that curcumin
inhibited autophagic death caused by HgCl2 through the
PI3K/AKT/Nrf2 pathway, thereby improving spleen damage.
Therefore, curcumin is a natural agonist of Nrf2, which provides
a good pharmacological basis for the treatment of diabetic
cardiomyopathy. Current research has found that curcumin has a
good therapeutic effect on the complications of diabetes.
Curcumin can inhibit the NF-κB/p65 pathway in the nervous system
of diabetic rats, increasing the activity of superoxide
dismutase and reducing the level of inflammatory factors. Al-Tamimi
found that curcumin could inhibit the PKCβ/p66shc axis and
activate FOXO-3a, reversing diabetic nephropathy in rats. The
present study found that curcumin can inhibit the progression of
pyroptosis in diabetic cardiomyopathy, reduce the degree of
myocardial fibrosis, and inhibit the decline of cardiac
function. Therefore, our findings support the therapeutic
potential of curcumin and provide a new theoretical basis for
the treatment of diabetic cardiomyopathy. This study found that
curcumin can promote the transfer of Nrf2 into the nucleus
through the AKT pathway and increase the expression of the
downstream antioxidant factors HO-1 and GCLC. These effects
cleared the accumulation of ROS in diabetic cardiomyocytes,
alleviated mitochondrial damage, inhibited the progression of
pyroptosis, and had a role in the treatment of diabetic
cardiomyopathy.
The Combined Effect of Curcumin and Crocin on the Reduction of
Inflammatory Responses in Arthritic Rats
Current Medicinal Chemistry | April 2023
Crocin,
curcumin and crocin + curcumin administration showed effective
anti-arthritic effects owing to their anti-inflammatory effects.
Therefore, crocin and curcumin, either alone or in combination,
can be a suitable treatment modality for rheumatoid arthritis.
The Apoptotic Activity of Curcumin Against Oral
Cancer Cells Without Affecting Normal Cells in Comparison to
Paclitaxel Activity
Applied Biochemistry
and Biotechnology | April 2023
Curcumin and paclitaxel (PTX)
have significant anti-cancer activity against normal human
gingival fibroblast and tongue squamous cell carcinoma
fibroblast cell lines. The results showed that curcumin (13.85
µg mL−1) and PTX (8.17 µg mL−1) significantly inhibited TSCCF
cell viability, with no significant effect on normal HGF cells.
For TSCCF, the results showed the highest necrosis was achieved
with curcumin (58.8%) and PTX (39%) as compared to the control
(2.99%). In conclusion, the results confirmed that
curcumin is more specific to the oral cancer cells but not
normal cells by inducing apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent
manner, with decreased TSCCF cell viability.
Curcumin
Epigenetically Represses Histone Acetylation of Echinocandin B
Producing Emericella rugulosa
Physiologia
| April 2023
Analysis revealed suppression of the
echinocandin B levels in the cells treated with curcumin.
Curcumin was also found to repress the expression of different
ecd genes by several folds. Taken together, we conclude that
curcumin targets echinocandin B production by inhibiting histone
acetylation as well as disrupting interspecies consortium
communication, which eventually leads to a decrease in the
echinocandin B synthesis. The curcumin treatment to E.
rugulosa NRRL11440 showed severe impairment of the
echinocandin B production as supported by the HPLC analysis.
Curcumin treatment to E. rugulosa NRRL11440 was found to
suppress the echinocandin B antifungal biosynthesis by
repression of gene expression of a transcriptional factor ecdB
and an NRPS-coded ecdA which shows reduced cell susceptibility
against C. albicans. Curcumin may turn out to be an effective
histone acetyltransferase inhibitor for limiting acetylation on
the histone proteins.
Curcumin and chemokines: mechanism of action and
therapeutic potential in inflammatory diseases
Inflammopharmacology | April 2023
Curcumin, the major
component of the Curcuma longa rhizome, has various
pharmacological actions, including anti-inflammatory,
immune-regulatory, anti-oxidative, and lipid-modifying
properties. Curcumin is a safe phytochemical that elicits a wide
range of biological actions in the human body. It shows
anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, lipid-modulating,
anti-thrombotic, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective,
anti-diabetic, anti-tumor, and neuroprotective actions (Qadir et
al. 2016; Bavarsad et al. 2019; Ghasemi et al. 2019; Iranshahi
et al. 2009; Panahi et al. 2017b; Parsamanesh et al. 2018;
Sahebkar and Henrotin 2016; Alidadi et al. 2020; Heidari et al.
2022; Vahedian-Azimi et al. 2022; Mohammed et al. 2021). In
addition, curcumin influences various cells and molecular
targets like growth factors, cytokines/chemokines, hormones,
transcription factors, cell adhesion molecules, protein kinases,
redox state enzymes, and receptors (Esatbeyoglu et al. 2012; H.
Zhou et al. 2011; Mashayekhi-Sardoo et al. 2021; Mohajeri et al.
2020; Soltani et al. 2021; Ganjali et al. 2017b;
Momtazi-Borojeni et al. 2018). The anti-inflammatory effects of
curcumin are mediated by downregulation in the activity of
cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), lipoxygenase (LOX), inflammasome, and
inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) (Goel et al. 2008b,
2008a; Hassanzadeh et al. 2020). Moreover, curcumin also
inhibits IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, TNF-α, macrophage inhibitory
protein (MIP), and the production of monocyte chemoattractant
protein-1 (MCP-1) pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines (Abe
et al. 1999), as well as down-regulates mitogen-activated and
janus kinases (Natarajan and Bright 2002; Siwak et al. 2005).
These biological effects appear to be achieved by
curcumin-mediated inhibition of NF-κB (Surh et al. 2001; Zhong
et al. 2012; Lee et al. 2005; Ji et al. 2009; Zhao et al. 2014).
The regulatory and anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin are
well established, and it exerts its pharmacological effects
through various molecular targets. In general, the biological
effects of curcumin are broadly thought to be achieved by
inhibition of NF-κB, although, more specifically, the actual
anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin are primarily mediated by
downregulation in the activity COX-2, LOX, and iNOS. Curcumin
can exert its inhibitory effects on chemokines, which generally
function as pro-inflammatory mediators and are responsible for
the recruitment of immune cells to sites of inflammation. As it
relates to the neuroprotective effects provided to neuroglia and
neurons, curcumin modulates the expression of different
chemokines and reduces degeneration, injuries, and deficits
associated with these cells' neuroinflammation. Moreover, the
inhibitory effect of curcumin on hepatic, cardiovascular,
pulmonary, and renal inflammatory conditions results in
decreased fibrosis and other inflammation-associated
histological complications. Lastly, in the case of cancer,
curcumin can inhibit chemokine expression, leading to inhibition
of tumor metastasis and activating specific chemokines that
recruit anti-tumor immune cells to the tumor microenvironment.
Curcumin Confers Anti-Inflammatory Effects in Adults Who
Recovered from COVID-19 and Were Subsequently Vaccinated: A
Randomized Controlled Trial
Nutrients |
April 2023
Curcumin intake confers anti-inflammatory activity
and may be a promising prophylactic nutraceutical strategy for
COVID-19. 4 weeks of curcumin supplementation resulted in
significantly lower concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines
in adults who recovered from COVID-19 infection and were
subsequently vaccinated. Curcumin, a polyphenolic compound
derived from the rhizomes of turmeric (Curcuma Longa),
providing the spices’ yellow pigment, has been recognized for
its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-viral, and immune
modulating properties. Several studies have demonstrated the
effect of curcumin to inhibit inflammatory signaling pathways
such as nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB) in several cell types and
disease models and reduce the induction of several
proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines Given the evidence to
suggest the anti-viral and anti-inflammatory activity of
curcumin, the interest in this dietary compound as an adjunctive
strategy for COVID-19 has risen. Importantly, curcumin has also
exhibited good safety and tolerability profiles in clinical
trials, even at high doses. We demonstrated that curcumin
supplementation was associated with significantly lower levels
of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and MCP-1, which increased
in the control group during the four-week trial period. These
findings indicate that curcumin supplementation may help to
control inflammation and support resilience.
Curcumin protects against doxorubicin induced
oxidative stress by regulating the Keap1-Nrf2-ARE and autophagy
signaling pathways
Psychopharmacology |
April 2023
Curcumin relieves depressive-like state through
the mitigation of oxidative stress and the activation of
Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway. Curcumin, a yellow coloring agent
extracted from curcuma longa, has pharmacological
effects including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory,
immunomodulatory, and neuroprotective activities (Aggarwal and
Harikumar 2009; Maheshwari et al. 2006). Notably, curcumin’s
antioxidative properties hold a great deal of potential for
neuroprotective effect. Previous studies have reported that the
main mechanism of curcumin the treatment of oxidant
stress-related diseases was the activation of Nrf2 (Madiha and
Haider 2019; Yang et al. 2009). Our previous study have revealed
that curcumin relieves depressive-like state through the
mitigation of oxidative stress and the activation of Nrf2-ARE
signaling pathway (Liao et al. 2020). By activating Nrf2-ARE
signaling, curcumin exerts its chemopreventive effects via the
induction of antioxidant enzymes (Scapagnini et al. 2011).
Soetikno et al. have also reported that curcumin alleviates
oxidative stress, inflammation, and renal fibrosis in remnant
kidney through the Nrf2-keap1 pathway (Soetikno et al. 2013).
Scapagnini et al. have reported that curcumin strongly induces
HO-1 expression and activity in different brain cells via the
activation of Keap1-Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway (Scapagnini et
al. 2011). Balogun et al. have also reported that curcumin
exhibited its chemopreventive effect by selectively activating
the Nrf2-Keap1-ARE signaling pathway (Balogun et al. 2003).Our
present study has demonstrated that curcumin exhibited great
potential to reverse the depressive-like behavior in DOX-treated
rats. DOX-induced excessive oxidative stress causes the
upregulation of autophagy, and autophagy acts as an antioxidant
feedback response activated by the p62-Keap1-Nrf2 feedback loop.
The possible mechanism under behavior-modulating and
neuroprotective effects of curcumin is the activation of
p62-Keap1-Nrf2 signaling pathway.
Impact
of Curcumin Supplementation on Radiation Dermatitis Severity: A
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled
Trials
Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer
Prevention | April 2023
Curcumin has recently attracted more
attention for managing the side effects of breast cancer
treatments. Based on the results of the present study, curcumin
has significant effects in reducing the severity of radiation
dermatitis in breast cancer patients receiving radiotherapy.
Amongst the wide range of medical herbs, curcumin is a component
of the turmeric plant and a potent antioxidant and
anti-inflammatory agent used to treat skin ailments, such as
scabies, acne, eczema, wrinkled skin, and wound healing. Some
clinical trial studies have shown that the effect of curcumin on
breast cancer dermatitis is beneficial(Khameneh et al., 2018;
Sarkhosh et al., 2019). For example, Okunieff et al. reported
curcumin might reduce cutaneous radiation toxicity in mice (Okunieff
et al., 2006). Hemati et al. demonstrated that oral curcumin is
effective in the prophylaxis of radiation-induced dermatitis in
breast cancer (Hemati et al., 2011). Curcumin can be
considered as an effective factor in inhibiting and controlling
radiation dermatitis in patients with BC and improving clinical
symptoms. Curcumin might reduce radiation dermatitis severity
compared to placebo through various molecular pathways, such as
reducing the levels of inflammatory cytokines.
Recent Progress in Understanding the Health Benefits of Curcumin
Molecules | March 2023
Among natural
compounds, curcumin, the main active component isolated from the
rhizome of Curcuma Longa L., is well known for its
beneficial effect on human health. Various biological activities
and therapeutic properties of curcumin are due to its chemistry;
in particular, phenolic hydroxyl groups, the central bis-α,
β-unsaturated β-diketone, double conjugated bonds, and methoxy
groups are responsible for its bio-pharmacological effects.
Inflammaging is a word used to describe the tight relationship
between low-grade chronic inflammation and aging that occurs
during physiological senescence in the absence of evident
infection. This condition has been linked to a broad spectrum of
age-related disorders in various organs, including the brain.
Inflammaging represents a highly significant risk factor for the
development and progression of age-related conditions, including
neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the progressive
dysfunction and degeneration of neurons in the brain and
peripheral nervous system. In the brain, curcumin acting on
microglia can inhibit the formation of reactive oxygen species
and other pro-inflammatory mediators that are believed to play a
pivotal role in many age-related diseases, such as Alzheimer’s
disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and Huntington’s
disease. The studies presented in this Special Issue have
confirmed the multiple proprieties of curcumin that are
beneficial to human health. Our results suggest that curcumin
supplementation or curcumin supplementation together with a
combined change in dietary habits and/or implementation of
physical activity and/or lifestyle changes has positive effects
on the levels of certain blood biochemical parameters and waist
circumference.
Meta-Analysis
of Exploring the Effect of Curcumin Supplementation with or
without Other Advice on Biochemical and Anthropometric
Parameters in Patients with Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver
Disease (MAFLD)
International Journal of
Environmental Research and Public Health | March 2023
Curcumin is characterized by many desirable properties. It has
anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties, among
others. Furthermore, importantly, it is safe and rarely causes
adverse symptoms. For this reason, it is used to treat or
support the treatment of many diseases, e.g., cardiovascular
diseases, inflammatory bowel diseases, breast, stomach,
pancreatic and lung tumors, dermatoses, allergic asthma, and
liver diseases. The use of curcumin supplementation or curcumin
supplementation together with changes in diet, lifestyle, and/or
physical activity led to statistically significant positive
changes in alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate
aminotransferase (AST), fasting blood insulin (FBI), homeostasis
model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), total
triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and waist
circumference (WC). It appears that these therapeutic approaches
may be effective in alleviating Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver
Disease (MAFLD).
The
Differential Antagonistic Ability of Curcumin against
Cytotoxicity and Genotoxicity Induced by Distinct Heavy Metals
Toxics | March 2023
Curcumin exhibits
various beneficial biological activities including being
anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and anti-bacterial.
A series of authoritative international institutions, such as
the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the USA and the Joint
FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, have confirmed the
safety of curcumin in daily use and clinical treatment.
Depending on the outstanding biological properties, curcumin is
increasingly employed to antagonize heavy metals’ adverse
effects, mainly through anti-oxidation and metal chelation. For
instance, curcumin had been shown to have many therapeutic
properties on cadmium-induced organ toxicity by removing ROS and
inhibiting oxidative damage. In addition, Kabeer Abubakar et al.
showed that curcumin attenuates Pb-induced neurotoxicity by
inhibiting oxidative stress and chelating Pb ions. Curcumin
shows prominent detoxification specificity against different
types of heavy metals and toxic endpoints, which provides a new
clue for the better and targeted application of curcumin in
heavy metal detoxification. The protective efficacy of
curcumin for Cd- and As-induced toxicity was more obvious than
for Pb and Ni. Both anti-oxidation and metal chelation
contributed to the antagonistic efficiency of curcumin against
heavy metals. Considering the remarkable bioactivity and wide
application of curcumin in biomedicine, it is worthwhile to
further investigate the protective effect of curcumin against
many other contaminants and elucidate the underlying mechanism
in vitro and in vivo.
Curcumin effects on chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease: A systematic review
Health Science
Reports | March 2023
Curcumin has antiproliferative and
anti-inflammatory effects by downregulating pro-inflammatory
cytokines. Besides, Curcumin accelerates the transcription of
genes which helps the expression of the antioxidant system by
reducing reactive oxygen species and leading to an
increase in the antioxidant defense system. Adding or replacing
Curcumin, a natural meal flavoring, may indicate advantages in
this era by its antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory effects.
Curcumin can inhibit alveolar epithelial thickness and
proliferation, lessen the inflammatory response, remodel the
airway, produce ROS, alleviate airway inflammation, hinder
emphysema and prevent ischemic complications. The findings of
our study suggest that Curcumin might be potentially a
beneficial food additive and could be effective in treating
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for alternation or
addition to previous pharmacological managements. It has been
demonstrated that this impact is related to Curcumin's
modulatory effects on oxidative stress, cell viability, and
inflammation.
Curcumin: a natural organic component that plays a
multi-faceted role in ovarian cancer
Journal of Ovarian Research | March 2023
Curcumin, a natural
organic component obtained from Curcuma longa’s rhizomes, shows
abundant anti-tumor, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory
pharmacological activities, among others. Notably the anti-tumor
activity has aroused widespread attention from scholars
worldwide. Numerous studies have reported that curcumin can
delay ovarian cancer, increase its sensitivity to chemotherapy,
and reduce chemotherapy drugs’ side effects. It has been shown
considerable anticancer potential by promoting cell apoptosis,
suppressing cell cycle progression, inducing autophagy,
inhibiting tumor metastasis, and regulating enzyme activity.
Around 210 clinical trials on curcumin application have been
documented. Several clinical trials have shown that curcumin has
beneficial effects on serum markers of inflammation, weight loss
and glucose and lipid metabolism. Among other roles, this
natural polyphenolic compound acts as an antioxidant,
anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, lipid-modifying. As a
broad-spectrum anticancer drug, has been reported to selectively
kill cancer cells through various biological pathways without
toxic side effects on normal cells. These biological pathways
include the induction of apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, effects
on autophagy, inhibition of tumor cell metastasis, regulation of
enzyme activity and inhibition of the inflammatory response.
Clinical trials have shown that curcumin does not have toxic and
side effects at a dose of 8 g per day, which indicates its
safety.
The effect of curcumin-piperine on cardiometabolic, inflammatory
and oxidative stress factors and macular vascular density
Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine | March 2023
Curcumin is a safe phytochemical with antioxidant,
anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and lipid-lowering effects. The
combination of curcumin with piperine (an alkaloid derived from
the plant Piper nigrum L.) has better gastrointestinal
absorption and reduces curcumin's systemic excretion. Piperine
increases the bioavailability of curcumin by binding to the
enzyme glucuronidase in the intestine, preventing
glucuronidation and reducing the excretion of curcumin from the
stool (Kaur, 2012). No significant adverse effects are
associated with supplementation with curcumin, even at doses
above 8 g/day (Mirzaei et al., 2017). Many regulatory proteins,
including chemokines, interleukins, hematopoietic growth
factors, and transcription factors, are modulated by curcumin,
thus reducing the inflammatory process (Peddada et al., 2019).
In several studies, curcumin has been shown to downregulate
tumor necrosis factor (TNF) -α (Li et al., 2013) and C- reactive
protein (Adibian et al., 2019). Curcumin supplementation
improved glycemic factors, low-density lipoprotein, very
low-density lipoprotein, and triglycerides in patients with
diabetes (Neerati et al., 2014). It also significantly lowered
blood glucose levels (Nabavi et al., 2015) and modulated retinal
disorders in diabetic rats. If the beneficial effects of
curcumin on diabetic retinopathy are observed, this safe, this
natural and inexpensive herbal supplement can be considered a
therapeutic solution in these patients.
Protective effects of curcumin and Ginkgo biloba
extract combination on a new model of Alzheimer’s disease
Inflammopharmacology | March 2023
Several experimental and
clinical investigations have shown that curcumin and its new
formulations protect against Alzheimer’s disease (Antona et al.
2021). Curcumin has been proven to have antioxidant,
anti-inflammatory, and neurotrophic properties, as well as the
ability to suppress apoptosis and hyper-phosphorylation of tau
protein (Yang et al. 2022). Our results provide strong evidence
for the hypothesis that ginkgo biloba extract increases
curcumin's plasma bioavailability and brain access, which may
improve curcumin’s effectiveness against characteristic symptoms
of Alzheimer’s disease. Moreover, it may support the idea that
ginkgo biloba extract and curcumin may be used together to
prevent the central pathological changes that result in the
occurrence of Alzheimer’s disease, and arrest the progression of
Alzheimer’s disease successfully.
The impact of curcumin supplementation on systemic
lupus erythematosus and lupus nephritis: A systematic review
Lupus | March 2023
Curcumin is the active ingredient in the
curry spice turmeric. It has anti-inflammatory properties due to
the inhibition of transcription factors and inflammatory
mediators such as nuclear factor-κβ (NF-κβ), cyclooxygenase-2
(COX2), lipoxygenase (LOX), tumor necrosis factoralpha
(TNF-alpha), and interleukin-1 (IL-1) and 6 (IL-6). Another
study suggested that curcumin reduced B cell-activating factor
(BAFF) when used for up to 8 weeks at 50 mg/kg/day. A reduction
in pro-inflammatory Th1 and Th17 percentages, IL-6 and
anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) levels were reported.
Curcumin Mitigates Neuropathic-Induce Muscle Atrophy
International Journal of Exercise Science | March
2023
Curcumin has been shown to
exert an anti-inflammatory effect, preserving muscle mass in
diabetic rats. Curcumin supplementation appears to mitigate this
inflammatory response and muscle mass loss.
Multiple mechanisms of curcumin targeting spinal
cord injury
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy
Volume | March 2023
Curcumin acts as an
anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-apoptotic and
neuroprotective agent in secondary spinal cord injury through
multiple pathways. As the main active ingredient in turmeric,
curcumin can play an important role in reducing inflammation and
oxidation, protecting the neurons, and ultimately reducing
spinal cord injury. This article reviews the effects of curcumin
on the repair of nerve injury, with emphasis on the various
mechanisms by which curcumin promotes the treatment of spinal
cord injury.
Efficacy of curcumin plus piperine
co-supplementation in moderate-to-high hepatic steatosis: A
double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial
Phytotherapy Research | February 2023
Curcumin + piperine
decreased waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, total
cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, fasting blood
glucose, alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase
compared with placebo. Curcumin + piperine may be considered as
an adjunct therapy to improve anthropometric measures, blood
pressure, lipid profile, blood glucose, and liver function in
NAFLD patients.
Curcumin-piperine co-supplementation and human health: A
comprehensive review of preclinical and clinical studies
Phytotherapy Research
| February 2023
The findings of this
comprehensive review show the beneficial effects of
curcumin-piperine in improving glycemic indices, lipid profile
and antioxidant status in diabetes, improving the inflammatory
status caused by obesity and metabolic syndrome, reducing
oxidative stress and depression in chronic stress and
neurological disorders, also improving chronic respiratory
diseases, asthma and COVID-19.
Curcumin
a Natural Phenol and Its Therapeutic Role in Cancer and
Photodynamic Therapy: A Review
Pharmaceutics | February 2023
Dietary-derived polyphenolic
compounds such as curcumin are stated to have anticancer
potential and related pharmacological benefits and receive
enormous attraction because of their beneficial health impact.
Curcumin is an extremely pleiotropic molecule that can mediate
cancer treatment as a chemopreventive or chemotherapy agent
without side effects. Curcumin and other turmeric-derived
products are labeled as safe by the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA, USA), and curcumin has achieved therapeutic pursuit in
treating metabolic diseases, immune-related diseases, and
cancer, owing to its vast biological target and with practically
no aftereffects. The structural characteristics of curcumin
improve its ability to bind with various biomacromolecules.
Mesenchymal
Stem Cells and Curcumin Effectively Mitigate Freund's
Adjuvant-induced Arthritis via their Anti-inflammatory and Gene
Expression
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune
Disorders | February 2023
Curcumin and BM-MSCs work together
to dramatically restore the high serum PGE2 and IL-17
levels and lower the IL-13 level in arthritic rats to normal
levels. Based on these findings, additive therapeutic effects on
rheumatoid arthritis occur from the combined treatment of
curcumin and BM-MSCs compared with their individual us. Thus, it
can be said that both curcumin and BM-MSCs are effective at
reducing inflammation while also having beneficial effects on
the ankle joint, thymus and spleen.
Modulatory properties of curcumin in cancer: A
narrative review on the role of interferons
Phytotherapy Research | February 2023
Curcumin, the active
ingredient of turmeric, is one of these herbal remedies with
many beneficial effects, including modulation of immunity.
Curcumin is beneficial in managing various chronic inflammatory
conditions, improving brain function, lowering cardiovascular
disease risk, prevention and management of dementia, and
prevention of aging. Several clinical studies have supported
this evidence, suggesting curcumin to have an immunomodulatory
and anti-inflammatory function.
The effect of Curcumin on metabolic parameters and
androgen level in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a
randomized controlled trial
BMC Endocrine
Disorders | February 2023
Recently curcumin was studied as
supportive therapy for a wide range of diseases such as type 2
diabetes which is one of the complications of polycystic ovary
syndrome PCOS. Based on a study on animals, curcumin can be
effective in improving insulin sensitivity and decreasing CRP
and IL-6 levels. Moreover, it was reported in a study on humans
that the edible intake of curcumin led to a significant decrease
in FBS, HOMA-IR, HbA1c, triglycerides, and total cholesterol
levels in patients with metabolic diseases. As seen in animal
experiments, the use of curcumin can lead to a decrease in
insulin resistance (one of the key features of polycystic ovary
syndrome PCOS phenotype), a decrease in blood’s inflammatory
factors such as CRP and IL-6. The administration of curcumin can
lead to improvement in insulin sensitivity, cholesterol levels
and metabolic factors in people with polycystic ovary syndrome
PCOS as well. Curcumin decreased FBS levels and improved
menstruation characteristics (amenorrhea, oligomenorrhea, and
menstrual irregularities) in women with polycystic ovary
syndrome PCOS. After the intervention, amenorrhea and
oligomenorrhea frequency in the curcumin group was significantly
lower than in the placebo group. After 12 weeks of intervention,
the mean serum FBS levels in the curcumin group were
significantly lower than in the placebo group.
Impacts of turmeric and its principal bioactive
curcumin on human health: Pharmaceutical, medicinal, and food
applications: A comprehensive review
Frontiers In Nutrition | February 2023
Recently, the
biological activities of turmeric and curcumin have been
thoroughly investigated. The studies mainly focused on their
antioxidant, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective,
hepatoprotective, and cardioprotective impacts. Over the few
current decades, considerable studies have been conducted on
curcumin due to its beneficial health properties, including
potent antioxidant properties, antimicrobial, anti-inflammation,
anticancer effects, cardio-protectiveness, and hypoglycemic
action. Curcumin has a prolonged history of usage in ancient
medicine, where it was used in various medical treatments as
well as food coloring and spice. Science has advanced over time,
demonstrating curcumin’s many positive benefits for human
health. Technological advances have made it possible to employ
curcumin for various uses in the food and health industries.
According to the results of preclinical and clinical studies
conducted in vitro and in vivo, respectively, curcumin may be
helpful in the prevention and treatment of many diseases,
including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, obesity,
allergy, asthma, inflammatory diseases, and neurodegenerative
disorders, e.g., Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis,
and Huntington’s disease by affecting different molecular
targets. Compared to other medications, curcumin is viewed as a
very cost-effective and safe natural substance that can be used
to prevent and treat many disorders. Black pepper piperine is
one of the most effective boosters of curcumin bioavailability.
The simultaneous administration of curcumin and piperine to
humans or animals boosted the serum levels by more than a
thousandfold. Piperine contained in black pepper can improve the
uptake of curcumin by 2,000% (20 times). The vast metabolism of
turmeric in the hepatic tissues and intestinal walls increased
its bioavailability, which improved through piperine. Taking
these two substances with an oil rich in unsaturated fatty acids
further strengthens this benefit. Zeng et al. examined the
effect of piperine pre-administration on oral curcumin
bioavailability. In this investigation, rats were given 20 mg/kg
piperine first, followed by 200 mg/kg curcumin at intervals of
0.5–8 h after piperine treatment. The pre-treatment with
piperine before curcumin administration significantly increased
curcumin oral bioavailability in all tested rats. Recent
research suggests that oral administration of curcumin and
piperine for symptomatic COVID-19 therapy might dramatically
reduce mortality and morbidity (53). The conjugation between
piperine and curcumin may be a safe and natural option for
preventing post-COVID symptoms.
The Role of Curcumin as an Anti-Aging Compound
Emerging Anti-Aging Strategies
| February 2023
Compounds that may
postpone the onset of age-related symptoms, particularly natural
compounds included in the average diet, are being thoroughly
researched and Curcumin is one among them. It alleviates
age-related symptoms, increases the lifetime of model organisms,
and delays the course of age-related disorders in which cellular
senescence is directly implicated.
Anticancer properties of curcumin-treated
Lactobacillus plantarum against the HT-29 colorectal
adenocarcinoma cells
Scientific Reports
| February 2023
When taken orally or
topically, curcumin has a number of anti-inflammatory and
anticancer properties. At both neutral and acidic pH levels,
curcumin possesses potent antioxidant properties. It also
influences cell signaling, enzyme activity, immunomodulation,
angiogenesis, and cell–cell adhesion. Curcumin’s ability to
modulate gene transcription and induce apoptosis in preclinical
models suggests that it may be especially useful for cancer
chemoprevention and chemotherapy in humans. Evidence of
biologically active levels in both animals and humans has been
demonstrated. Oral curcumin has already been studied
extensively, and it appears to have the potential to help people
with invasive or pre-invasive gastrointestinal tract cancers,
particularly those of the colon and rectum. Curcumin may
affect the metabolomics of probiotics in intestinal flora which
could subsequently influence their anticancer properties. The
findings in this study suggest that the metabolomics of
curcumin-treated probiotics may either directly induce enhanced
toxicity against cancer cells or may interact with curcumin
indirectly, amplifying their anticancer effects.
The Therapeutic Role of Curcumin in Inflammation and
Post-Surgical Outcomes
Food Reviews
International
| February 2023
Curcumin is a natural
polyphenol derivative that showed to target multiple signaling
molecules at the cellular level and help in supporting health
benefits by acting as a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant
compound. It has been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of
inflammatory conditions, metabolic syndrome, wounds,
post-surgical inflammation and outcomes. Curcumin has remarkable
antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties because it
inhibits inflammatory mediators. Curcuminoids as a preventative
agent against myocardial infarction after coronary artery bypass
grafting (CABG) were evaluated; C-reactive protein, plasma
malondialdehyde, and N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide
levels were all significantly lower in curcumin when compared to
the placebo group. Curcumin by itself has very low
bioavailability due to ineffective absorption, and fast
metabolism and excretion. This issue can be solved by combining
curcumin with piperine (a key active ingredient in black pepper)
to create a curcumin complex that is readily absorbed and
metabolized in the body. Other in-vitro studies have also
demonstrated additional evidence supporting the cardioprotective
effect of curcuminoids is that they inhibit human platelet
activation which eventually lead to decreased occurrence of
myocardial ischemia. Curcumin’s antioxidant properties were
found to reduce adriamycin-induced cardiotoxicity and may help
prevent diabetic cardiovascular complications. Curcumin also has
an anti-thrombotic, anti-proliferative, and anti-inflammatory
properties, and can lower serum cholesterol levels, all of which
may protect against atherosclerosis. In animal models,
curcumin have been shown to reduce the development of cardiac
hypertrophy and heart failure. Curcumin has been shown to have
strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that could
result in improved post-surgical outcomes. In conclusion, this
review paper shows that curcumin is highly beneficial and has
strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that could
result in improved post-surgical outcomes. These benefits are
maximized when curcumin is coupled with agents such as piperine,
that significantly increase its bioavailability.
Curcumin Induces Ferroptosis in Follicular Thyroid
Cancer by Upregulating HO-1 Expression
Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity | February 2023
Curcumin has anticancer effects in multiple types of solid
tumors. Research has demonstrated that curcumin has potential
applications in pharmacology and cancer treatment. Curcumin
inhibits cancer cell growth and promotes apoptosis in colorectal
cancer, lung cancer, and prostate cancer. Additionally, numerous
studies have shown that curcumin elevates the HO-1 expression in
a wide range of cancer cells. Tumorigenesis is significantly
inhibited by curcumin. The present study shows that curcumin
inhibits the growth of follicular thyroid cancer by increasing
the HO-1 expression, further activating the ferroptosis pathway.
This study demonstrates that the HO-1-ferroptosis signalling
pathway might play an important role in follicular thyroid
cancer tumorigenesis, and that curcumin inhibits the growth of
follicular thyroid cancer cells by affecting this pathway.
We conclude that curcumin inhibits the tumorigenesis of
follicular thyroid cancer via HO-1-induced activation of the
ferroptosis signalling pathway. Further research is needed to
determine the specific mechanism underlying the effect of
curcumin on follicular thyroid cancer; however, for patients who
cannot tolerate surgery or are difficult to diagnose, it may be
possible to develop a therapeutic pathway towards the remission
of follicular thyroid cancer based on our findings.
Curcumin inhibits pancreatic cancer cell
proliferation
Journal of Gastrointestinal
Oncology | January 2023
In hypoxic pancreatic cancer cells,
curcumin can inhibit the HIF-1α-mediated glycolytic pathway by
down-regulating Beclin1 expression, thereby inhibiting cell
proliferation. Furthermore, curcumin reduced cellular adenosine
triphosphate (ATP) production in a dose-dependent manner.
Compared with control pancreatic cancer cells, the expression
levels of GLUT1, HK2, LDHA, and PDK1 gradually decreased with
increasing curcumin concentrations. Curcumin can inhibit the
expression of Beclin1 and HIF-1α in pancreatic cancer cells
under anoxic conditions, thereby affecting the glycolysis
pathway and inhibiting cell proliferation.
Exploring the Neuroprotective Mechanism of Curcumin
Inhibition of Intestinal Inflammation against Parkinson’s
Disease Based on the Gut-Brain Axis
Pharmaceuticals | January 2023
Curcumin is an important
active ingredient of turmeric with a wide range of
pharmacological effects, such as antitumor, antioxidant,
anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and hypolipidemic properties.
In addition, curcumin promotes Parkinson’s disease treatment
through multiple pathways, including the prevention of reactive
oxygen species (ROS) production, glial cell activation, a-syn
aggregation, neuronal cell apoptosis. Cui et al. suggested
that curcumin may have more important peripheral effects than
direct effects on the central nervous system. Curcumin is known
to improve intestinal barrier function and reduce inflammation.
In a previous study, curcumin was considered neuroprotective in
PD, and this neuroprotective mechanism may act by inhibiting
intestinal inflammation. After treatment with curcumin,
the total movement distance and average speed improved, the
tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) rate in the substantia nigra pars
compacta (SNpc) and striatum were reduced, the pyroptosis of
AIM2 and caspase-1 activations were inhibited, and intestinal
inflammatory factors and intestinal inflammation were reduced.
Curcumin improved gastrointestinal disorders and
gastrointestinal barrier function in the MPTP-induced mice and
reversed MPTP-induced motor dysfunction and dopaminergic neuron
loss in mice. The above effects may be partly dependent on
curcumin activation of the SIRT1/NRF2 pathway in the colon. This
study provides a potential opportunity to develop new preventive
measures and novel therapeutic approaches that could target the
gut–brain axis in the context of PD and provide a new
intervention in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. In
summary, curcumin can inhibit intestinal pyroptosis through
activation of the SIRT1/NRF2 pathway; reduce intestinal tissue
secretion of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, and TNFα; and attenuate the
loss of gastrointestinal barrier proteins ZO-1 and occludin,
elucidating that curcumin is dependent on the gut–brain axis and
thus exerted neuroprotective effects.
Curcumin’s anti-cancerous activity
Williams Cancer Institute | January 2023
For over 5000 years
plants have been used as medicine and therapies and nowadays a
fair amount of modern medicine is directly or indirectly derived
for plants. There are many plant-derived compounds that can
induce apoptosis in cells; these compounds are non-toxic for our
body and are capable of boosting apoptotic pathways. Curcumin
found in turmeric has been found to have many properties
including anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and
anti-carcinogenic. The influence of Curcumin in treating cancer
relies on its effect on cell proliferation, cell survival,
caspase activation, death receptors, mitochondrial, protein
kinase and tumor suppression pathways; so through this
interactions, its able to suppress tumor cells initiation,
progression and metastasis. One of its best qualities is that
curcumin is toxic for cancer yet cytoprotective for normal
cells, making it universal for all kind of cancer cells, proving
positive effects on breast, lung, prostate, pancreatic, oral,
colorectal, multiple myeloma and head and neck squamous cell
carcinoma Also, it’s been shown that people from southwest Asia
who regularly consume turmeric in their diet, have the lowest
incidence of any type of cancer. Despite its actual mechanism
against cancer is still unknown so far it has demonstrated to be
a good, natural and safe adjuvant in cancer treatment.
Attenuation of Inflammatory Responses in Breast and
Ovarian Cancer Cells by a Novel Chalcone Derivative and Its
Increased Potency by Curcumin
Mediators of
Inflammation | January 2023
Curcumin, is extensively studied
for its various pharmacological effects, including anticancer
properties. Curcumin has shown promising results in treating
cancer, both alone and in combination with other
chemotherapeutic agents. It exerts anticancer effects, mainly by
modulating various signaling pathways and transcription factors.
Curcumin is a well-known natural product with numerous
pharmacological effects, especially in cancer. It has been
shown in recent studies that curcumin inhibits cell
proliferation, promotes apoptosis, suppresses chemotherapeutic
resistance, and exerts antimetastatic effects in the treatment
of both breast and ovarian cancers, either alone or combined
with other chemotherapeutic agents. In conclusion, our findings
suggest that MPP, a novel synthetic derivative of chalcone,
alone or in combination with curcumin, could serve as an
effective anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic treatment for
combating breast and ovarian cancer, mediated by the inhibitory
effect of this combination on NF-κB activity and its downstream
genes. All the effects of MPP were enhanced by the addition of
curcumin. MPP, especially when combined with curcumin, caused a
remarkable increase in the concentration of IκB. MPP and
its coadministration with curcumin effectively reduced the
activity of the NF-κB signaling pathway, leading to a reduced
inflammatory response in the environment of cancer cells.
Curcumin for the treatment of COVID-19 patients: A
meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Phytotherapy Research | January 2023
Curcumin is a low-cost
and easily accessible therapeutic option for COVID-19 patients.
Curcumin reduced the risk of all-cause mortality (RR 0.38; 95%
CI: 0.20–0.72; moderate certainty of evidence), and patients
with no recovery status (RR 0.54; 95% CI: 0.42–0.70; moderate
certainty of evidence). The results of subgroup analysis
suggested a higher benefit with early administration of curcumin
(within 5 days of onset of symptoms) and with the use of
combination regimens. Curcumin is likely to be of benefit in
mild-to-moderate COVID-19 patients.
Inhibiting
proliferation and migration in cervical cancer by curcumin and
resveratrol
Natural Product Research | January 2023
Functional
experiments indicated that curcumin displayed stronger
inhibitory activity on the proliferation of cervical cancer HeLa
cells. Curcumin exerted its anti-cervical cancer effect by
regulating cell cycle mitosis, whereas resveratrol affected
adhesion. Furthermore, the target genes were verified by
molecular docking, qRT-PCR, and Western blot, the results
revealed that curcumin and resveratrol significantly decreased
the expression of CHEK1 and MAPK3, respectively. In conclusion,
curcumin inhibited the proliferation of cervical cancer HeLa
cells by specifically targeting CHEK1, while resveratrol
specifically targeted MAPK3 to supress migration, and the
combination of them can synergistically restrain the
proliferation and migration of cervical cancer cells.
Curcumin treatment suppresses cachexia-associated
adipose wasting in mice by blocking the cAMP/PKA/CREB signaling
pathway
Phytomedicine | January 2023
Curcumin significantly reduced serum levels of free fatty acids
and increased triglyceride levels. In addition, curcumin
significantly inhibited PKA and CREB activation in the adipose
tissue of cancer cachectic mice. Curcumin also ameliorated
CL316243-induced adipose atrophy and inhibited hormone-mediated
PKA and CREB activation in mice. Moreover, the lipid droplet
degradation induced by C26 tumor cell conditioned medium in
mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes was ameliorated by curcumin treatment.
Curcumin also improved the lipid droplet degradation of mature
3T3-L1 adipocytes induced by CL316243. Curcumin might be
expected to be a therapeutic supplement for cancer cachexia
patients, primarily through inhibiting adipose tissue loss via
the cAMP/PKA/CREB signaling pathway. Curcumin alleviated cancer
cachexia-associated adipocyte atrophy and lipid degradation. The
protective effects of curcumin on cachectic fat loss are
mediated by the cAMP/PKA/CREB signaling pathway.
Curcumin suppresses cell proliferation and reduces
cholesterol absorption
Lipids in Health and Disease
| January 2023
Curcumin is a bioactive dietary
polyphenol of turmeric with various biological activities
against several cancers. Several studies have demonstrated the
protective effects of Curcumin against varied cancers, including
lung cancer, breast cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer
and so on. In addition, an epidemiological analysis showed an
association between dietary consumption of Curcumin and
decreased incidence of colorectal cancer in the Indian
population. Several potential mechanisms of curcumin-related
anti-cancer effects in colorectal cancer have been identified,
such as mechanisms involving DNA damage, cell cycle arrest,
apoptosis, colorectal cancer angiogenesis, epidermal growth
factor receptor signaling pathway, and tumor immunomodulation.
Furthermore, Zou J. et al found that curcumin could reduce
intestinal cholesterol absorption by 51% in mice. Studies have
demonstrated the potential anti-tumor effects of curcumin on
CRC. In summary, the present study demonstrates that curcumin
suppresses the proliferation of Caco-2 cells and reduces
cholesterol absorption through activate the TRPA1 channel.
Furthermore, the potential antitumor effect of curcumin in a
high-lipid environment was determined. Curcumin is a bioactive
dietary polyphenol that exhibits anticancer and lipid-lowering
effects in vitro. Curcumin could serve as a natural active
ingredient to be used in the primary prevention of colorectal
cancer in clinical practice.
Curcumin enhances the anti-cancer efficacy of
paclitaxel in ovarian cancer
Frontiers | January 2023
Curcumin
has been shown to synergistically enhance the therapeutic
effects of multiple chemotherapeutic agents, but the potential
involvement of curcumin in ovarian cancer is largely unknown.
Curcumin and paclitaxel synergistically inhibited proliferation
and promoted apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells. Furthermore,
curcumin and paclitaxel combination resulted in decreased
miR-9-5p expression and increased BRCA1 expression.
Functionally, miR-9-5p overexpression counteracted the
synergistic effect of curcumin and paclitaxel on cell
proliferation and apoptosis by targeting BRCA1. Meanwhile, in
vivo experiments revealed that curcumin and paclitaxel
combination dramatically suppressed the growth of transplanted
tumors, while miR-9-5p mimics eliminated the growth inhibition
of xenografts induced by the combined treatment. Conclusion:
Curcumin enhanced the anti-cancer efficacy of paclitaxel in
ovarian cancer by regulating the miR-9-5p/BRCA1 axis. These
findings provide strong evidence for clinical investigation of
curcumin and paclitaxel combination as a novel strategy for
ovarian cancer patients.
MiR-125b-5p is targeted by curcumin to regulate the
cellular antioxidant capacity
Free Radical
Research | January 2023
As a natural polyphenolic food
supplement and the principal curcuminoid in turmeric, curcumin
shows antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor activities.
Cellular antioxidant capacity induced by curcumin extract was
inhibited by miR-125b-5p overexpression. Thus, curcumin may
exhibit antioxidant effects by repressing miR-125b-5p
expression, which provides new insights into the molecular
antioxidant mechanism of curcumin.
Curcumin Stimulates UCP1-independent Thermogenesis
in 3T3-L1 White Adipocytes but Suppresses in C2C12 Muscle Cells
Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering | January
2023
The anti-obesity effect of curcumin involves mainly two
interacting parts, one mediated via β3-AR and cAMP
(UCP1-dependent) and the other via α1-AR and increase in
cytosolic Ca2+ levels (UCP1-independent) in beige fat but not in
muscle cells.
Curcumin
Reduces Pathological Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress
International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
January 2023
Several published studies show that curcumin
treatment reduces ER stress in a range of conditions. We can
identify a “natural” chemical, curcumin, which is able to reduce
pathological ER stress in a cell model of EDM5 by promoting the
proteasomal degradation mutant matrilin-3. Therefore, this is an
important in vitro study in which we describe, for the first
time, the success of a naturally occurring chemical as a
potential treatment for this currently incurable rare skeletal
disease. This is an important and exciting area of research that
will have significant clinical impact on a range of human
diseases including the rare skeletal disease, EDM5.
The
Effects of Curcumin on Inflammasome: Latest Update
Molecules | January 2023
Curcumin, a natural
monomer extracted from plants, has gained popularity in recent
decades due to its therapeutic benefits in a wide range of human
pathological conditions. The medicinal plant Curcuma longa
Linn, a perennial herb of the Zingiberaceae family known as
“golden spice” for its broad spectrum of pharmacological
properties, contains curcumin as one of its most active
constituents. In addition, the chemical structure of curcumin
makes it an excellent scavenger of reactive oxygen and nitrogen
species (ROS and RNS, respectively). As a result, curcumin can
attenuate or prevent exercise-induced oxidative stress and
inflammation. Curcumin activates the Nrf2 pathway, which is
important for the activation of antioxidant enzymes . Curcumin
is well known to have anti-inflammatory effects, and its role in
modulating neuroinflammation in several neurological disorders
has been extensively described. Taken together, in vitro, in
vivo, and clinical studies confirmed curcumin’s promising
effects for attenuating inflammation and oxidative stress,
alleviating the patient’s pain, protecting joints from damage,
and improving the quality of life of rheumatoid arthritis
patients without side effects. Curcumin encapsulation in
nanoparticles or in combination with MSCs showed an effective
and promising strategy for increasing curcumin bioavailability
and efficacy in rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, new curcumin
formulations and administration routes (such as oral and
topical) have been proposed as effective strategy for treating
rheumatoid arthritis. In this review, we have focused on the
therapeutic effects of curcumin administration in various
inflammatory diseases, focusing on its functional mechanisms in
preventing activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Future research
will address the clinical application of curcumin to treat
diseases in which the inflammasome is activated.
Review of Curcumin and Its Different Formulations:
Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics and
Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic Interactions
OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine | January 2023
Curcumin has many pharmacological activities, such as
antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral,
antidiabetic, anticancer, and immunomodulatory activities,
against neurological disorders as well as digestive disorders.
Curcumin acts as an antioxidant by potentially scavenging
various free radicals, such as reactive oxygen and nitrogen
species, and inhibiting lipoxygenase/cyclooxygenase and xanthine
dehydrogenase/oxidase, enzymes that are thought to generate
reactive oxygen species. In addition, it can act directly by
upregulating the antioxidant defense enzymes, such as superoxide
dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. Despite possessing
potential pharmacological activity, as well as safety at high
doses (12 g/day), curcumin therapeutics still face low
bioavailability. Piperine increased the bioavailability of
curcumin by 154%. Curcumin combined with piperine exhibited
higher intestinal absorption (78%). When co-administered with
piperine, the half-life of curcumin was increased from 12.8h to
28.9h. Co-administration of piperine (20 mg/kg) and curcumin (2
mg/kg) increased the plasma concentration of curcumin in a short
time, i.e. within 1-2h, peak time was increased, elimination
half-life decreased, and clearance decreased. In humans, even
with a 2g load of curcumin, the serum level was undetectable. A
higher extent of absorption and higher bioavailability of
curcumin (2000%) was observed in humans using 20mg piperine. The
pharmacological activities of curcumin and its related
formulations and products have been reviewed in a few targeted
disease pathologies of national concern, such as cancer,
gastroduodenal disorder, immunodeficiency, liver disease,
ophthalmology, diabetes and osteoarthritis among other metabolic
diseases, and microbial and viral infections.
Curcumin Induces Ferroptosis in Follicular Thyroid
Cancer by Upregulating HO-1 Expression
Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity | January 2023
Research has demonstrated that curcumin has potential
applications in pharmacology and cancer treatment. Curcumin
inhibits cancer cell growth and promotes apoptosis in colorectal
cancer, lung cancer, and prostate cancer. Additionally, numerous
studies have shown that curcumin elevates the HO-1 expression in
a wide range of cancer cells. The present study shows that
curcumin inhibits the growth of FTC by increasing the HO-1
expression, further activating the ferroptosis pathway. This
study demonstrates that the HO-1-ferroptosis signalling pathway
might play an important role in FTC tumorigenesis, and that
curcumin inhibits the growth of FTC cells by affecting this
pathway. We conclude that curcumin inhibits the tumorigenesis of
FTC via HO-1-induced activation of the ferroptosis signalling
pathway. Further research is needed to determine the specific
mechanism underlying the effect of curcumin on FTC; however, for
patients who cannot tolerate surgery or are difficult to
diagnose, it may be possible to develop a therapeutic pathway
towards the remission of FTC based on our findings.
Curcumin supplementation contributes to relieving
anthropometric and glycemic indices, as an adjunct therapy: A
meta-research review of meta-analyses
Journal of Functional Foods Volume | January 2023
Curcumin
supplementation can improve anthropometric and glycemic
parameters in a time- and dose- dependent manner.
Administered dose of > 1 g/day of curcumin has the most
beneficial effect on anthropometric and glycemic indices. Longer
durations of supplementation (>10-week) are needed to have the
decreasing impact on HOMA-IR and HbA1c. Curcumin supplementation
can be administered as the adjuvant therapy in managing
hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and obesity. The significant
effects of Curcuma longa are primarily due to curcumin (Pulido-Moran
et al., 2016). Some beneficial effects of curcumin have
been revealed, including anti-diabetic properties, antioxidant
properties, and anti-inflammatory properties (Kalpana and Menon,
2004, Tsuda, 2018). Curcumin can have beneficial roles in some
chronic illnesses, e.g., coronary artery disease,
atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, obesity, and T2DM
(Aggarwal and Harikumar, 2009, Karimi et al., 2022). The
beneficial role of curcumin on glycemic control is due to its
inhibitory effect on hepatic gluconeogenesis, glycogenesis, and
hyperglycemia-mediated inflammation development (Ghorbani et
al., 2014). Besides, it has been reported that curcumin can
decrease angiogenesis in adipose tissue (Pivari et al., 2019,
Seo et al., 2008), decrease pre-adipocyte differentiation by
increasing resting energy expenditure by activating peroxisome
proliferator- activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ((İçer and Tek,
2021, Seo et al., 2008), reduce adipogenic genes expression (Kim
et al., 2011, Lee et al., 2009), and inhibit cortisol-mediated
central obesity (Hu et al., 2013). The beneficial role of
curcumin on glycemic control may be stemmed from its inhibitory
effect on the phosphorylation kinase enzyme involved in glycogen
storage mobilization (Razavi et al., 2021). It has been
demonstrated that curcumin can substantially lower FBS and HbA1c
levels (Tabrizi et al., 2018; Wei et al., 2019). Curcumin can be
effective in different health conditions and age groups. With
moderate reliability, curcumin supplementation can be
administered as the adjuvant therapy in managing hyperglycemia,
insulin resistance, and obesity.
Fluoxetine and Curcumin Prevent the Alterations in
Locomotor and Exploratory Activities and Social Interaction
Elicited by Immunoinflammatory Activation in Zebrafish:
Involvement of BDNF and Proinflammatory Cytokines
ACS Chemical Neuroscience | January 2023
The increase in
proinflammatory cytokine expression causes behavioral changes
consistent with sickness behavior, and this led to the
suggestion that depression might be a psychoneuroimmunological
phenomenon. Fluoxetine and curcumin prevented the sickness
behavior induced by A. hydrophila and the increased expression
of proinflammatory cytokines. Our results point to the potential
of zebrafish as a translational model in studies related to
neuroinflammation and demonstrate for the first time the effects
of fluoxetine and curcumin on zebrafish sickness behavior.
Curcumin combined with verapamil improve
cardiovascular phenotype of a Williams-Beuren Syndrome mice
model reducing oxidative stress
bioRxiv |
January 2023
Curcumin is a natural yellow pigment, which has
attracted much attention in recent years owing to its wide
spectrum of biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-
inflammatory, anti-tumor, or anti-microbial activities, (Llano
et al., 2019; Bozkurt et al., 2022). Besides, curcumin improved
cardiovascular structure and function, especially with the
normalization of systolic blood pressure and collagen deposition
in rats with diet-induced metabolic syndrome (du Preez et al.,
2019). In addition, curcumin has previously shown cardiac
protection in front of palmitate and high fat diet mediated the
activation of the nuclear factor erythroid 2 (NRF2) (Zeng et
al., 2015). A combination of curcumin and verapamil
significantly ameliorates the cardiovascular phenotype of a
mouse model for WBS. Its efficiency is achieved through
reduction of oxidative stress levels evidenced by the reduction
of XOR protein levels and induction of NRF2 pathway, both in the
aortic wall and LV-myocardium. Verapamil is already approved for
human use, while curcumin is a natural safe product. We here
shown that their combination deserves further evaluation as
potential therapeutic agent to prevent the severe cardiovascular
injuries occurring in human patients with WBS.
Curcumin suppresses lung cancer progression via
circRUNX1 mediated miR-760/RAB3D axis
Thoracic Cancer | December 2022
Curcumin has
antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer
pharmacological effects, and it therefore has the potential to
become an effective drug for treating arthritis, cardiovascular
disease and cancer. Studies have reported that curcumin
exerts its anticancer effect by inhibiting cancer cell
proliferation, metastasis, and promoting apoptosis, including
lung cancer. Curcumin, as a natural phytochemical, is attracting
more and more attention. The anticancer role of curcumin has
previously been confirmed in hepatocellular, breast and
pancreatic cancers. Here, we reveal the anticancer effect of
curcumin in lung cancer progression. Curcumin hindered
proliferation, metastasis, increased the apoptosis of lung
cancer cells, and restrained lung cancer tumor growth. Our
results are consistent with previous studies, which indicate
that curcumin is an effective substance to suppress lung cancer
progression. In conclusion, our study showed that curcumin plays
an anticancer role in the progression of lung cancer, which is
mainly realized by circRUNX1/miR-760/RAB3D axis. Our study
revealed for the first time that curcumin inhibits lung cancer
progression by regulating the circRNA network, which not only
provides more evidence for the anticancer role of curcumin, but
also provides a new molecular target for lung cancer treatment.
Childhood obesity and curcumin: a possible effective
anti-obesity adjunct
Advances in Obesity,
Weight Management & Control | December 2022
Curcumin, an
important compound present in the Curcuma longa L.
rhizome is a lipophilic molecule that can rapidly permeate cell
membranes to exert its effect. Other intervention studies that
have examined the impact of dietary polyphenols including
curcumin have further shown its ability to improve insulin
resistance, as well as obesity-associated low grade inflammatory
responses, a main determinant of the pathology of multiple
chronic health conditions, and possibly caused in part by an
inadequate nutrient intake that induces alterations in the lipid
content of adipose tissue and activation of immune and adipose
cells and others that foster local and systemic inflammation.
Additional recent evidence points not only to the
anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin in this regard, but also
its metabolic effects that can help to relieve obesity, as well
as obesity-associated chronic health conditions. Moreover,
curcumin appears to have pharmacological properties that
objectively lower body weight, fat mass and triglyceride levels,
while enhancing energy expenditure, fat utilization, and glucose
hemostasis. Unsurprisingly, among the many beneficial health
affirming impacts reported for curcumin, research specifically
focused on obesity and the metabolic-preventing/suppressing
aspects of curcumin is growing. Curcumin in its various forms
where present or administered in adequate amounts is likely to
either help initiate or offset excess weight, and promote weight
loss, more often than not, and via well defined cellular
pathways and molecular mechanisms of action, that support its
apparent ameliorating effect on inflammation and diabetes
extent, especially in cases with early onset obesity, or where
losing weight via traditional interventions may be a perpetual
‘losing’ battle. Among the potential mechanisms for offsetting
some degree of obesity, and its ramifications, the role of the
spice known as curcumin currently appears to exhibit very
favorable promise based on its ability to interact at the
cellular and molecular level, and attested to in most emergent
cellular, preclinical and clinical data sets that could be
adapted to support the idea of personalized and precision
medicine.
Curcumin
inhibits pancreatic cancer cell proliferation by regulating
Beclin1 expression and inhibiting the hypoxia-inducible
factor-1α- mediated glycolytic pathway
Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology | December 2022
Curcumin has a wide range of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory
activities, as well as inhibition of the mitochondrial cascade.
Additionally, it has shown significant antitumor activity. In
conclusion, in hypoxic pancreatic cancer cells, curcumin can
inhibit the HIF-1α-mediated glycolytic pathway by
down-regulating Beclin1 expression, thereby inhibiting cell
proliferation.
Micronutrient Supplementation to Reduce
Cardiovascular Risk
Journal of the American
College of Cardiology | December 2022
Curcumin, flavanol, genistein, and
quercetin showed moderate- to high-quality evidence for reducing
CVD risk factors. Supplementation of some but not all
micronutrients may benefit cardiometabolic health. This study
highlights the importance of micronutrient diversity and the
balance of benefits and risks to promote and maintain
cardiovascular health in diverse populations.
Not all micronutrients are created equal: Study
identifies some supplements that benefit cardiovascular health
Medical Express | December 2022
A comprehensive and systematic
approach to evaluate all the publicly available and accessible
studies reporting all micronutrients, including phytochemicals
and antioxidant supplements and their effects on cardiovascular
risk factors as well as multiple cardiovascular diseases. The
researchers looked at randomized, controlled intervention trials
evaluating 27 different types of antioxidant supplements. They
found strong evidence that several offered cardiovascular
benefit. Curcumin, flavanol, genistein and quercetin showed
evidence of reducing cardiovascular risk.
Curcumin Inhibits Proliferation of Renal Cell
Carcinoma in vitro
and in vivo
by Regulating miR-148/ADAMTS18 through Suppressing Autophagy
Journal of Integrative Medicine | December 2022
Curcumin can
inhibit the proliferation of renal cell carcinoma by regulating
the miR-148/ ADAMTS18 axis through the suppression of autophagy
in vitro and in vivo. There may exist a positive feedback loop
between miR-148 and ADAMTS18 gene in RCC.
Curcumin Regulates Gut Microbiota and Exerts a
Neuroprotective Effect in the MPTP Model of Parkinson's Disease
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine | December
2022
All curcumin groups improved cell wrinkling and vacuolar
degeneration, increased the number of TH positives, improved
cell survival, and the higher the dose of curcumin, the better
the effect. The relative abundance of Patescibacteria,
Enterobacteriaceae, Enterococcaceae all decreased in all
curcumin groups. In addition, the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes
and Genomes pathways showed a reduction in the superpathway of
N-acetylneuraminate degradation after medium and high-dose
curcumin administration. Curcumin regulates gut microbiota and
exerts a neuroprotective effect in the MPTP mice model. This
preliminary study demonstrates the therapeutic potential of
curcumin for Parkinson's disease, providing clues for
microbially targeted therapies for Parkinson's disease.
Curcumin, a polyphenol extracted from the rhizomes of
Curcuma longa, is converted into biologically active
metabolites in the intestine by microbial digestion. Nowadays,
it has been shown to have multiple effects such as
anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, and mitochondrial
protection. The bidirectional interplay between curcumin and gut
microbes has been demonstrated, as curcumin is not only
metabolized by the enzymes of the gut microbes to produce active
metabolites but it also strengthens the intestinal barrier and
changes the composition of the gut microbes. Thus, curcumin can
exert a wide range of pharmacological effects through the
“microbe-gut-brain axis” and can be used to treat many chronic
diseases. Curcumin has shown an extremely high therapeutic
potential in Parkinson's Disease. In animal models, dyskinesia
can be improved after the use of curcumin. Many studies have
also confirmed that curcumin increased the survival of tyrosine
hydroxylase striatal fibers and nigrostriatal dense part neurons
in rat PD model induced by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA),
exhibiting increased dopamine levels. Concomitantly, curcumin
can exert anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting
microglia-mediated neuroinflammation and reducing interleukin-2,
chemokines, and cyclooxygenase-2. Curcumin has also been shown
to increase the electrical activity of hippocampal neurons in
rotenone-induced Parkinson's Disease model rats and regulate the
activity of mitochondrial enzyme complex. In addition, a recent
clinical study found that curcumin improved motor and nonmotor
symptoms and reduced the aggregation of phosphorylated α-Syn in
skin biopsies in Parkinson's Disease patients. Our study shows
that curcumin can effectively regulate the changes of gut
microbiota, improve the dysfunction of MPTP mice, reduce the
neurotoxicity of MPTP in Parkinson's Disease mice, and protect
DA neurons, and there is some correlation with the dose. This
preliminary study demonstrates the therapeutic potential of
curcumin for Parkinson's Disease, providing clues for
microbially targeted therapies for Parkinson's Disease.
Curcumin in Ulcerative Colitis
Encyclopedia.pub | December 2022
The significant
anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin, being described over
the years have attracted a lot of researchers’ interest,
especially in the context of treating diseases with a chronic
inflammation basis. In many studies it has been shown that
curcumin inhibits NF-κB expression by blocking IkappaB (IκB)
kinase, that leads to the prevention of cytokine-mediated
phosphorylation and the degradation of IκB, which is an NF-κB
inhibitor. Furthermore, it was also reported that curcumin
inhibited the activity of proinflammatory proteins (e.g.,
activated protein-1, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor
gamma, transcription activators, the expression of β -catenin).
As oral supplementation with curcumin leads to its high
concentration in the gastrointestinal tract, studies have slowly
focused on its impact on the intestinal microbiota. Via this
mechanism, the problem of low systemic curcumin bioavailability
probably is not a significant issue within the gastrointestinal
tract, and curcumin may have a hypothetical beneficial influence
on the gut microbiome. A bidirectional interaction exists
between curcumin and gut microbiota. Gut microbiota are actively
involved in curcumin metabolism, which lead to curcumin
biotransformation (demethylation, hydroxylation, demethoxylation)
and the production of metabolites. Curcumin supplementation is
effective in promoting the growth of beneficial bacterial
strains, improving intestinal barrier functions, and
counteracting the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators.
Peterson et al., in a double-blind, randomized,
placebo-controlled pilot study with 30 healthy subjects,
assessed changes in the gut microbiota using 16S rDNA sequencing
after oral supplementation with turmeric 6000 mg with extract of
piperine, curcumin 6000 mg with Bioperine (black pepper extract)
tablets, or placebo, at baseline and after 4 and 8 weeks. They
found that both turmeric and curcumin in a highly similar manner
altered the gut microbiota. Participants who took turmeric
supplementation displayed a 7% increase in observed microbial
species post-treatment, and curcumin-treated subjects displayed
an average increase of 69% in detected bacterial species.
Protective effect of curcumin on the kidney of
diclofenac sodium-challenged mice: apoptotic, redox potential
and histopathological outcomes
The Journal
of Basic and Applied Zoology | December 2022
Curcumin
can be used as a promising natural phytochemical in rescuing
chemotherapy-associated renal dysfunction owing to its redox
stabilizing and cytoprotective nature. In folk medicine,
curcumin is a well-known therapeutic approach for numerous
respiratory and gastrointestinal ailments (Araujo & Leon, 2001).
According to Oriental beliefs, it has habitually been used in
fighting abnormalities linked to inflammatory and peroxidative
injury (Trujillo et al., 2013). Most of the biological actions
of Curcuma longa L. are attributed to curcumin, which
is suggested to be a top-ranked alternative in protecting
against chemotherapy-associated disturbances as it reduces the
production of apoptotic mediators and free radicals. The
anti-apoptotic ability of curcumin is mediated by activating the
DNA repair process (Chen et al., 2017), down-regulating the
transcript levels of pro-apoptotic mediators, up-regulating
those of anti-apoptotic mediators and inducing cytoprotective
proteins (Ben Yehuda Dai et al., 2016; Greenwald et al., 2017).
Neutralization of reactive oxygen species, up-regulation of
enzymatic antioxidants expression and stimulation of the
production of non-enzymatic ones (Barzegar & Moosavi-Movahedi,
2011; Lavoie et al., 2009) reflect the dual functional
antioxidant role of curcumin. The above-mentioned multifaceted
properties of curcumin offer a solid intellectuality for
interfering with the different toxicological targets of DS.
Curcumin succeeded in restoring the typical histomorphometric
features and reducing the apoptosis in the kidney. Curcumin
might exert its renoprotective action through its cytoprotective,
anti-apoptotic and antioxidant characteristics. The findings of
this study shed light on using natural phytochemicals to
alleviate the adverse influences of chemotherapies. . These
outcomes are of utmost significance in opening windows toward
incorporating curcumin in fighting the DS-related defects and
touching a new ground for exploring its usefulness in combating
the other dangerous effects of DS.
Beneficial effects of curcumin in the diabetic rat
ovary: a stereological and biochemical study
Histochemistry and Cell Biology | December 2022
Curcumin
treatment had a protective effect on the number of primordial
follicles in the DC2 group and on antral follicle numbers in the
DC3 group. Curcumin also exhibited positive effects on CAT
activity and SOD levels, blood glucose levels, and corpus
luteum, connective tissue, and blood vessel volumes in the DC2
and DC3 groups. Curcumin also ameliorated FSH levels in the DC1
and DC3 groups (p < 0.01). These findings suggest that curcumin
exhibits protective effects on ovarian structures and
folliculogenesis, especially when used concurrently with the
development of diabetes or in later stages of the disease.
Old but Fancy: Curcumin in Ulcerative Colitis—Current Overview
Nutrients | December 2022
Over the last
few years curcumin, a natural polyphenol belonging to the
curcuminoid family (compounds derived from Curcuma longa L.
[turmeric root]), is of greater interest in the context of
managing UC. It seems that curcumin is a promising natural
compound due to its widely described multi-beneficial effects on
microbiota alteration and antioxidative, antitumor and—the most
relevant—anti-inflammatory properties. Curcumin, also known as
the ‘golden spice of India’, has been used for thousands of
years as an essential medicinal, herbal ingredient that exhibits
anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, or antimicrobial properties,
mainly. It is also well-known in Chinese traditional medicine.
Since 2020, the interest in curcumin for treating UC has
increased noticeably, as evidenced by the increase in published
systematic reviews. Searching via PubMed the descriptors
“curcumin and ulcerative colitis” yielded sixteen systematic
reviews and/or meta-analyses since 2012, where nine of them have
been published from 2020 to the present. For some individuals
affected by UC, there seems to be a real need to identify
curcumin’s role as a supplement in safe, bioavailable, tolerated
doses, and to incorporate it into routine clinical practice for
better clinical outcomes and improvement of the quality of life
of patients.
New Insights into Dose-Dependent Effects of Curcumin
on ARPE-19 Cells
International Journal of
Molecular Sciences | December 2022
Curcumin is a natural and
biologically-active molecule that has been largely studied
because of its versatility; indeed, there is a huge number of
studies based on the use of curcumin in different pathological
contexts, including ocular diseases. This compound has been
shown to elicit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and
anti-angiogenic effects in various cell systems. Curcumin is
particularly important because of its versatility. Curcumin is
the main curcuminoid extracted from the rhizome of Curcuma
longa. Curcumin is considered a pleiotropic compound
because of its ability to interact with many cellular components
and influence a high number of cellular mechanisms. Altogether,
our findings show new dose-dependent mechanisms of action of
curcumin that suggest a wide therapeutic application in ocular
diseases with different pathogenesis (i.e., proliferative
vitreoretinopathy or Age-Related Macular Degeneration). This
interpretation is in accordance with previous evidence about the
cytotoxic effects of curcumin in particular conditions and
contributes to underlining new insights into the effects of this
very useful compound. Taken together our results agree with the
high versatility of Curcumin for application in ophthalmic
diseases. Administration of high concentrations of curcumin may
be recommended to limit the progression of the disease. By
contrast, a lower dosage of Cur should be used for ocular
pathologies characterized by RPE degeneration, such as
Age-related macular degeneration, to promote RPE health and
survival. We also showed new dose-dependent effects of curcumin,
highlighting mechanisms by which curcumin acts on RPE cells
which lays the foundation for further studies in the field.
Curcumin:
A Novel Way to Improve Quality of Life for Colorectal Cancer
Patients?
International Journal of
Molecular Sciences | December 2022
Several preclinical
studies have demonstrated that curcumin acts through multiple
cellular pathways and possesses both anti-cancer properties
against CRC and the capacity to mitigate chemotherapy-related
side effects and overcome drug resistance. In this review
article, we suggest that the addition of curcumin to the
standard chemotherapeutic treatment for metastatic CRC could
reduce associated side-effects and overcome chemotherapy
resistance, thereby improving patient QoL. For many years,
curcumin (diferuloylmethane)—the “golden spice”—has been widely
studied because of its pleiotropic effects in cancer. Curcumin,
a hydrophobic polyphenol, is derived from the rhizome of the
herb Curcuma longa and constitutes the major curcuminoid in the
spice turmeric (77% curcumin, 17% demethoxycurcumin, 3% bis-demethoxycurcumin).
Curcumin is “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) as a dietary
supplement by the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and has been catalogued
with the E100 code of the European Union. One of the clinical
benefits of curcumin is the improvement of Quality of Life in
several health conditions, including cancer. Curcumin is a
pleiotropic agent that acts through multiple cellular pathways
and has been shown to possess anti-cancer properties against
Colorectal Cancer in vitro and in vivo. Many of its anti-cancer
properties have been attributed to its role as an
anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, as well as to its ability to
modulate the cell cycle and the pathways involved in
proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, and
metastasis, which are typically targeted by the drugs used to
treat Colorectal Cancer. Mechanistically, curcumin modulates
several Colorectal Cancer molecular targets at the same
time—either by altering their gene expression, activation, or
signaling pathways, or by direct interaction. Importantly, in
addition to its well-known anti-cancer properties, curcumin can
also alleviate some of the chemotherapy-related side effects.
For example, curcumin attenuates the liver injury induced by
oxaliplatin through activation of the nuclear factor-erythroid
2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling, a key regulator pathway of
cellular defense against oxidative and electrophilic stresses,
as well as the nerve damage and the oxidative damage to
mitochondria caused by oxaliplatin. In fact, curcumin has been
shown to not only hinder mitochondrial damage but also to
protect mitochondria and induce activity of mitochondrial
complex enzymes. Interestingly, similar effects of curcumin on
cisplatin-related toxicity have been observed in several tumor
types. Additionally, curcumin protects against irinotecan-induced
intestinal injury by inhibiting nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB).
Recently, it has been shown that curcumin attenuates
bevacizumab-associated cardiotoxicity by suppressing oxidative
stress and preventing mitochondrial dysfunction in heart
mitochondria. In a study of curcumin’s effects in cancer
patients, Belcaro and colleagues looked at the side effects of
chemotherapy in several tumor types, including colon, ovarian,
lung, liver, kidney, and stomach cancers. Of 80 patients treated
with chemotherapy, 40 simultaneously received 500 mg of
curcumin. Chemotherapy-related nausea, diarrhea, constipation,
weight loss, neutropenia, and cardiotoxicity were significantly
lower in the patients receiving curcumin than in the control
group. Moreover, patients receiving curcumin also required fewer
medications for treating these side effects. In the same vein,
turmeric supplementation for 21 days resulted in a clinically
relevant and statistically significant improvement in global
health status, symptom scores (fatigue, nausea, vomiting, pain,
appetite loss, insomnia), and hematological parameters of breast
cancer patients treated with paclitaxel. Taken together, these
findings lead us to suggest that the addition of curcumin to the
standard treatment of Colorectal Cancer could not only attenuate
chemotherapy-associated side effects but also improve the QoL of
patients. Most clinical data on curcumin come from early phase
clinical trials, with results showing that oral curcumin can
achieve efficacious levels in the colon with negligible
distribution outside the gut. Moreover, curcumin was shown to be
safe in advanced Colorectal Cancer patients when administered
for up to four months. In addition, a study by James and
colleagues found that curcumin at doses up to 2 gms daily was
highly tolerable when added to a FOLFOX regimen in Colorectal
Cancer patients with liver metastases. More recently, the same
group performed a phase IIa randomized trial of first-line
treatment for mCRC patients comparing FOLFOX +/−bevacizumab with
the same regimen plus curcumin 2 gms/day (CUFOX) in mCRC
patients. One of the most commonly used herbal supplements is
curcumin, which has been extensively studied in cancer
prevention and treatment. In fact, a plethora of preclinical
studies have demonstrated the anti-cancer properties of curcumin
as well as its role as a chemosensitizer agent. Several
preclinical studies have demonstrated that the addition of
curcumin to the standard treatment of Colorectal Cancer could
decrease treatment-associated side effects and enhance
chemotherapy efficacy. Therefore, considering that
therapy-induced toxicity is among the most important factors
limiting cancer treatment and is usually associated with
discontinuation of potentially effective therapy, we suggest
that adding curcumin, a natural compound with a very low
toxicity profile in humans, to current Colorectal Cancer
treatment regimens could be a potential synergistic strategy to
reduce chemotherapy-related adverse effects, improve treatment
efficacy, and decrease drug resistance.
The protective effects of curcumin on depression:
Genes, transcription factors, and microRNAs involved
Journal of Affective Disorders | December 2022
Curcumin is
one of the natural compounds that have been developed for
depression therapy. Curcumin, the main therapeutic component of
turmeric (Curcuma longa), has long been recognized for
its significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties due
to its unique molecular structure (Duc et al., 2021; Nguyen and
Kim, 2021; Nguyen et al., 2021c). Curcumin is well-known for its
potential as a neuroprotective compound against depression.
Curcumin has also been shown to possess physiological effects
that are comparable to those of typical antidepressant
medications (Ramaholimihaso et al., 2020). Curcumin may have an
anti-depressant effect via the relevant genes. We also observed
74 miRNAs associated with depression that are targeted by
curcumin, with hsa-miR-146a-5p having the greatest expression
and interaction. Curcumin's physicochemical
characteristics and pharmacokinetics are consistent with its
antidepressant effects due to its high gastrointestinal
absorption, which did not remove it from the CNS, and its
ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier. Curcumin also
inhibits CYP1A9 and CYP3A4. Our data mining found that
curcumin's antidepressant effects were regulated by 14 different
genes. The GeneMANIA prediction plug-in presented interaction
types among the identified genes targeted by curcumin's possible
benefits to counteract the development of depression. Converging
evidence indicates that curcumin has been shown to exert
modulating effects on neuroplasticity, insulin resistance,
inflammatory pathways, excitotoxicity, neurotransmitter levels,
nitrosative and oxidative stress, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal
disturbances, and the endocannabinoid system, all of which can
be implicated in the pathophysiology of depression (Ramaholimihaso
et al., 2020).Our findings suggest that curcumin may have a
possible anti-depressant impact via the following genes:
ADORA2A, ALB, BDNF, FGF2, GLO1, GSK3B, IL6, MIF, NOS1, PTGS2,
RELN, SELP, SOD1, and NR3C1.
Mechanism of apoptosis activation by Curcumin
rescued mutant p53Y220C in human pancreatic cancer
Molecular Cell Research | December 2022
Based on our studies,
it reflects that apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells is
mediated by curcumin-rescued mutant p53Y220C. In this study, we
have shown through different biophysical and cell-based studies
that curcumin binds and rescues mutp53Y220C to an active
wild-type conformation and restores its apoptotic transcription
function in BxPC-3-pancreatic cancer cells. In addition, the
curcumin-rescued-p53Y220C (CRp53) showed significant
hyperphosphorylation at Ser15, Ser20, and acetylation at Lys382
with an 8-fold increase in transcription activity in the BxPC-3
cell lines.
An in silico investigation on the interactions of curcumin
and epigallocatechin-3-gallate with NLRP3 Inflammasome complex
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy | December
2022
The binding energies of curcumin and inhibitor MCC950
are almost identical. Curcumin and EGCG, plant-derived
compounds, inhibit the NLRP3-mediated IL-1β and IL-18
production. Curcumin and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG)
suppress the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Our data
showed that NLRP3 had a higher binding affinity for curcumin and
EGCG than other complex proteins. The therapeutic effect of
curcumin and EGCG may be due to the inhibition of inflammasome
activation. The molecular and protein-protein interaction data
indicated that the therapeutic effects of these two polyphenols
are mediated by preventing the development of the NLRP3 complex.
MACC1-Dependent Antitumor Effect of Curcumin in Colorectal
Cancer
Nutrients | November 2022
Curcumin is the curcuminoid compound of turmeric (Curcuma
longa). Its remedial effect was shown for various diseases, such
as Alzheimer’s and gastrointestinal disorders. Recent studies
also demonstrated curcumin’s inhibitory impact on cancer
progression and distant dissemination of tumors. Curcumin is
able to inhibit proliferation and induces apoptosis. Further
studies revealed that curcumin treatment enhances G1/S cell
cycle arrest. Moreover, curcumin treatment induces autophagy
through the suppression of the AKT/mTOR/p70S6K pathway. In
addition to these, its effect on angiogenesis, cancer stemness,
and NFκB signaling was reported in different tumor entities.
Preliminary studies indicated the potential inhibitory effect of
curcumin on prostate cancer metastasis by decreasing the
expression of CXCL1 and 2. Curcumin reduced the
metastasis-associated in colon cancer 1 expression, restricted
the metastasis-associated in colon cancer 1-induced
proliferation, and was able to reduce the metastasis-associated
in colon cancer 1-induced cell motility as one of the crucial
steps for the distant dissemination of the tumor. We further
showed the metastasis-associated in colon cancer 1-dependent
effect of curcumin on clonogenicity and wound healing. This
study is, to our knowledge, the first identification of the
effect of curcumin on the restriction of cancer motility,
proliferation, and colony-forming ability by using
metastasis-associated in colon cancer 1 as a target. Taken
together, we illustrated the prominent inhibitory effect of
curcumin on MACC1 expression and MACC1-induced phenotypes. In
addition, we further revealed the MACC1-dependent
anti-proliferative and anti-migratory effects of curcumin.
Although the experiments have been conducted in the established
cell lines, these promising results can expand in the other
models so that curcumin can further supplement the treatment of
CRC patients, notably those who cannot tolerate statins and have
high MACC1 expression. This is the first study showing the
effect of curcumin on reducing MACC1 expression in the
established cell lines. In this study, we demonstrated the
MACC1-dependent inhibitory effect of a wide range of curcumin
concentrations on MACC1-induced viability, proliferation,
migration, wound healing, and clonogenicity.
Effects of curcumin, a bioactive component of turmeric, on type
2 diabetes mellitus and its complications: an updated review
Food & Function | November 2022
Among
the herbal supplements, turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) has
been attracting an avalanche of attention owing to its main
component, curcumin. This review examines the physiological
activities and mechanisms of action of curcumin associated with
type 2 diabetes and its complications. The anti-diabetic
characteristic of curcumin is mainly attributed to its
anti-inflammatory as well as anti-oxidant activities. In
addition to these activities, curcumin has been developed as a
promising prevention/treatment choice for diabetes complications
by modulating various critical signal steps owing to the
anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic activities of
curcumin. Studies on diabetic humans and animals have revealed
that curcumin may have positive effects on oxidative stress and
inflammation and may reduce fasting blood glucose levels,
increase insulin sensitivity/secretion and regulate the lipid
profile. Thus, it may prevent and treat diabetes by affecting
various molecular targets.
Curcumin Represses Colorectal Cancer Cell Proliferation by
Triggering Ferroptosis via PI3K/Akt/mTOR Signaling
Nutrition and Cancer | November 2022
Curcumin is known to suppress the progression of
colorectal cancer by inhibiting cancer cell proliferation. In
this study, we explored the role of ferroptosis in the
antiproliferative properties of curcumin. The effect of curcumin
on ferroptosis In Vitro was evaluated in HCT-8 cells.
Ferroptosis was first blocked by ferrostatin-1 and the
antiproliferative effect of curcumin was evaluated by
determining the levels of ferroptotic markers, including
glutathione, SLC7A11, GPX4, iron, malondialdehyde, and reactive
oxygen species. Curcumin repressed HCT-8 cell proliferation in a
dose-dependent manner. Treating HCT-8 cells with curcumin
significantly downregulated GSH, SLC7A11, and GPX4, while
significantly increasing levels of iron, MDA, and ROS. In
addition, curcumin promoted ferroptosis and reduced
proliferation of HCT-8 cells by suppressing the PI3K/Akt/mTOR
pathway, and these effects were antagonized by Fer-1. The
effects of curcumin were antagonized by a PI3K agonist and
reinforced by a PI3K inhibitor. Curcumin triggers ferroptosis
and suppresses proliferation of colorectal cancer cells by
inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. These results
indicate its potential as a treatment against colorectal cancer.
Neuroprotective Activities of Curcumin in
Parkinson’s Disease: A Review of the Literature
International Journal of Molecular Sciences | November 2022
Curcumin is a neuroprotective agent with antioxidant,
anti-inflammatory, free radical scavenging, mitochondrial
protecting, and iron-chelating properties, which enhance DA
levels in the brain. Curcumin is a polyphenolic compound
isolated from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa (turmeric). It has
been demonstrated to have potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant,
free radical scavenging, mitochondrial protecting, and
iron-chelating effects, and is considered a promising
therapeutic and nutraceutical agent for the treatment of
Parkinson’s disease. The interaction of curcumin with α7-nACh
receptors provides further evidence for a potential
neuroprotective role for curcumin in Parkinson’s disease.
Additionally, curcumin and derivatives show a high safety
profile with minimal reported toxicity as demonstrated both in
in vitro and in in vivo studies in Parkinson’s disease models.
Therefore, gaining a better understanding of the neuroprotective
properties of curcumin could have significant therapeutic
implications. The evidence reviewed supports curcumin’s powerful
molecular and cellular effects in neurodegenerative disorders as
an appealing strategy for improving Parkinson’s disease
management and prognosis. Perkins and colleagues reported that
humans require a daily dose of 1.6 g curcumin to achieve the
desired results. Concomitant administration of piperine with
curcumin significantly reduced elimination and half-life
clearance of curcumin.
Schizophrenia,
Curcumin and Minimizing Side Effects of Antipsychotic Drugs:
Possible Mechanisms
Neurochemical Research
| November 2022
Curcumin has important therapeutic properties
such as antioxidant, anti-mutagenic, anti-inflammatory, and
antimicrobial functions and protection of the nervous system.
Also, the ability of curcumin to pass the blood-brain barrier
raises new hopes for neuroprotection. Curcumin can improve and
prevent further probable neurological and behavioral disorders
in patients with schizophrenia. Alternative therapy such as
curcumin can reduce the severity of symptoms without significant
side effects. It decreases the side effects of neuroleptics and
retains lipid homeostasis. Curcumin increases the level of
brain-derived neurotrophic factor and improves hyperkinetic
movement disorders. Curcumin may act as an added counteraction
mechanism to retain cell integrity and defense against free
radical injury. Thus it appears to have therapeutic potential
for improvement of schizophrenia. In this study, we review
several properties of curcumin and its ability to improve
schizophrenia and minimize the side effects of antipsychotic
drugs, and we explore the underlying mechanisms by which
curcumin affects schizophrenia and its symptoms.
Glutathione
Compared to Curcumin in the Management of Systemic Lupus
Erythematosus: A Systematic Review
Cureus |
November 2022
Curcumin can be a more promising alternative
since it operates on various pathways and is a more easily
accessible source. Based on the data available, curcumin shows a
broader range of applications. It has actions on many more
pathways. Hence, curcumin is a more apt drug for usage soon.
Curcumin is a more available, naturally occurring compound. In
addition, some studies also indicate the effect of curcumin on
glutathione function. Curcumin also has more studies proving its
role in the management of SLE, thus making it a safer bet for
case management. The ability of curcumin to interact with
several immunomodulatory pathways makes it so valuable for
managing autoimmune diseases. The activation of oxidative
pathways is how curcumin's anti-inflammatory role is activated.
Curcumin targets the inhibitor of kappa-B kinase subunit beta
(IKKβ) of the NFκB pathway to help reduce inflammation. NFκB
downregulation by curcumin minimizes the release of nitric
oxide, ILs, and various other inflammatory markers from the T
cells. Curcumin also prevents neutrophil chemotaxis, thus
reducing inflammatory responses in tissues. Curcumin acts by
causing impairment in the formation of pro-inflammatory markers.
Curcumin plays a role in adjusting the levels of inflammatory
markers from cells. It reduced IL types 4, 6, and 8 and tumor
necrosis factor (TNF) alpha. Reducing free radicals in the body
helps reduce inflammatory changes in tissues.
Curcumin improves insulin sensitivity in high-fat
diet-fed mice through gut microbiota
Nutrition
& Metabolism | November 2022
Curcumin is a polyphenolic
compound extracted from tropical plant Curcuma longa, and as a
phytochemical derived from a medicinal and edible food, it not
only has an extremely low level of toxicity but also has been
used in traditional medicine to improve metabolic diseases.
Moreover, curcumin has been shown to improve metabolic syndrome
in basic research, and its potential efficacy in improving
diabetes has also been demonstrated in clinical trials.
Therefore, curcumin has excellent prospects for clinical
application in the prevention and treatment of insulin
resistance. In a recent study by our research team, gut
microbiota were shown to mediate the enhancement of uncoupling
protein 1-dependent thermogenesis by curcumin in high-fat
diet-fed mice, while curcumin increased energy consumption by
improving high-fat diet-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis and
hence ameliorating high-fat diet-induced obesity in mice.
Accordingly, we speculated that curcumin may exert its
protective effects against insulin resistance via gut microbiota
modulation. We believe this knowledge would provide a
theoretical basis for the clinical application of curcumin in
the prevention and treatment of metabolic syndrome and type 2
diabetes, as well as new ideas for the treatment of metabolic
diseases. Curcumin-restructured fecal microbiota produced
similar effects to curcumin, while also confirming that curcumin
improved insulin sensitivity through gut microbiota modulation
in high-fat diet-fed mice. This study demonstrated that curcumin
ameliorated high-fat diet-induced GLMDs and increased insulin
sensitivity, and verified that the beneficial effects of
curcumin required its modulation on gut microbiota. Moreover, we
found that curcumin upregulated the expression of the
gut-derived hormone FGF15, and this upregulation was also
dependent on gut microbiota. Our findings suggested that
curcumin at least partly exert its effects on increasing insulin
sensitivity via FGF15 upregulation in high-fat diet-fed mice.
This study provided a theoretical basis for the clinical
application of curcumin in the treatment of metabolic syndrome
and type 2 diabetes. In addition, it is hoped that our findings
will provide novel ideas on nutritional manipulations of gut
microbiota for the treatment of metabolic diseases.
Curcumin and Its Analogs in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Treatment: Challenges and Expectations
Biomolecules | November 2022
Curcumin, a natural polyphenolic
compound extracted from the root of turmeric, possesses diverse
pharmacologic activities, including anti-diabetes, anti-aging,
anti-Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease,
anti-cardiovascular disease, and anti-cancer, etc. Specifically,
in tumor treatment, modern medicine has demonstrated that
curcumin exerts therapeutic effects on various cancers,
including breast cancer, colorectal neoplasm, liver carcinoma,
glioblastoma, gastric tumor, and lung carcinoma, etc. We
determined via a PubMed database search that researchers first
reported assessing curcumin as an anticancer drug in 1985. Ten
years later, investigators found that Cur could suppress lung
tumor metastasis and extend the life span of mice. Since then,
many non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) preclinical studies
revealed that curcumin could inhibit tumor nodules ; restrain
cancer stem cells; control the cell cycle; suppress immigration,
invasion, and repair; induce the production of ROS and ER
stress; trigger apoptosis; elevate DNA damage and ferroptosis;
and promote necrotic cell death, thereby treating and preventing
NSCLC. The broad actions through which curcumin can affect
non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in vitro and in vivo are
summarized. Considerable preclinical evidence has revealed that
curcumin and its analogs affect non-small cell lung cancer
(NSCLC) via various mechanisms, such as inducing ROS production,
increasing ferroptosis, changing mitochondrial potential, and
disturbing cellular signaling pathways. Additionally,
co-treatment with curcumin and other agents synergistically
enhances cytotoxicity in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
cells to suppress tumor cell growth, migration, and invasion.
This evidence suggests that curcumin and its analogs offer
promise to prevent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in humans.
Quinacrine and Curcumin in combination decreased the
breast cancer angiogenesis by modulating ABCG2 via VEGF A
Journal of Cell Communication and Signaling | November 2022
Curcumin + QC inhibited the proliferation, invasion, migration
and expression of representative markers of metastasis and
angiogenesis. Curcumin + QC inhibited the ABCG2 expression and
thus reduced the angiogenesis. Reduction of vascularization was
also observed after treatment of Curcumin + QC.
Curcumin + QC inhibited the process by inhibiting ABCG2 in
breast cancer.
Combination of curcumin and piperine synergistically
improves pain-like behaviors in mouse models of pain with no
potential CNS side effects
CM Journal |
November 2022
For centuries, turmeric containing curcumin and
Piper nigrum containing piperine have been used as food
additives and folk medicine, including Traditional Chinese
Medicine. The combination of C. longa curcumin, and
P. nigrum piperine, has been used in traditional medicine.
Many recent studies reported synergistic effects of curcumin and
piperine combination in various pharmacological models,
including lung cancer, aging, and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Curcumin has also been reported as a potential analgesic both in
animals and humans and exhibits diverse cellular and molecular
targets. Curcumin inhibits pain neurotransmission by modulating
immune and neuronal cells at cellular and mechanistic levels. In
animal models of pain, curcumin suppresses pro-inflammatory
mediators and increases endogenous anti-inflammatory mediators
by modulating peripheral and central immune cells. The present
study demonstrates strong antinociceptive synergism between
curcumin and piperine in mouse models with no potential CNS side
effects, suggesting its possible use in clinical trials.
The combination of curcumin and piperine produced synergistic
interaction in the formalin, tail-flick, and cold plate tests.
The synergistic interaction of curcumin and piperine was further
confirmed by the efficacy of the combination in LPS-stimulated
RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. Curcumin and piperine interacted
synergistically, reducing proinflammatory mediators. The
combination also demonstrated better compatibility profiles with
neuronal cells. The combination of curcumin and piperine
synergistically ameliorates pain-like behaviors in the mouse
formalin model. Curcumin and piperine significantly ameliorate
formalin-induced peripheral and central inflammation. Curcumin
and piperine synergistically attenuate inflammatory response
in-vitro. The curcumin-piperine combination at the highest
dose exhibited significantly lesser expression of
pro-inflammatory cytokines compared to the individual treatment
at respective concentrations. Curcumin-piperine combination
showed better compatibility with neuronal cells compared to
individual treatments. The combination of curcumin and piperine
synergistically interacts in suppressing pain-like behaviors
induced by heat stimuli. The combination of curcumin and
piperine synergistically interacts in suppressing pain-like
behaviors by cold stimuli. Reduction in locomotive behaviors was
not observed with the curcumin-piperine combination, indicating
no potential CNS side effects of curcumin-piperine combination
at its highest therapeutic doses. Curcumin and piperine
interacted synergistically, suppressing inflammatory mediators
with favorable compatibility with neuronal cells. Curcumin and
piperine have been shown to interact synergistically in various
preclinical pharmacological studies. The combination of curcumin
and piperine elicited a greater antinociceptive effect compared
to that of either curcumin or piperine alone. The isobolographic
analysis was performed to evaluate the type of interaction,
wherein strong antinociceptive synergism between curcumin and
piperine was found. This interaction produced by the combination
of these two compounds could be due to their pharmacodynamic and
pharmacokinetic interactions. Pharmacodynamically, the
combination of curcumin and piperine could simultaneously
inhibit multiple sites of action in the pain pathway. The
ability of curcumin and piperine to modulate diverse pathways of
pain could lead to robust inhibition of pain transmission when
those are coadministered. Hence, the pharmacodynamic interaction
between curcumin and piperine could be one of the potential
reasons for the observed antinociceptive synergism in this
study. In addition, it has also been proved that piperine can
increase the delivery of curcumin to systemic circulation due to
its ability to improve the pharmacokinetic profiles of curcumin.
Piperine was reported to increase the bioavailability of oral
curcumin: 154% and 2000% increase in curcumin concentration in
the plasma was observed in rats and humans, respectively. The
increased concentration of curcumin in the bloodstream is due to
the ability of piperine to decrease the rate of metabolism of
curcumin in the intestine and liver. In the intestine, piperine
regulates membrane lipid dynamics and inhibits the intestinal
metabolism of curcumin, leading to enhanced curcumin retention
in the intestine. Furthermore, piperine reduces the rate of
curcumin metabolism in the liver by hindering aryl hydrocarbon
hydroxylation, ethylmorphine-N-demethylation,
7-ethoxycoumarin-O-deethylation, and 3-hydroxy-benzo(a)pyrene
glucuronidation and glucuronidation, which subsequently reduce
the first-pass metabolism of curcumin. Hence, coadministration
of piperine and curcumin enhances the oral bioavailability of
curcumin, and thereby, its therapeutic efficacy. This factor may
also have influenced the strong antinociceptive synergism
observed in this study. Cells treated with the curcumin-piperine
combination at their EC90 concentration showed no toxicity to
neuronal cells. We found no effects of the individual curcumin
and combination on the spontaneous locomotor activity at their
high doses, while individual piperine reduced locomotor
activity. The results indicate no potential CNS side effects of
the curcumin and piperine combination.
Curcumin Sensitizes 4T1 Murine Breast Cancer Cells
to Cisplatin
In Vivo | November 2022
Curcumin, which is highly effective at inducing cell death in
various types of cancer, is a polyphenolic yellow pigment
derived from Curcuma longa. It can selectively chemosensitize
tumor cells, thereby protecting normal cells from chemotherapy
and radiotherapy. In this study, treatment of mice with curcumin
led to a decrease in tumor mass. Treatment with curcumin
followed by cisplatin led to complete tumor mass regression in
mice compared with the control group. Zhao et al. reported that
high levels of PAR4 in the serum and plasma of mice inhibited
the growth of metastatic lung tumor nodules derived from Lewis
lung carcinoma cells in syngeneic mice. Curcumin is a good
inducer of PAR4 expression in breast cancer cells and a
secretagogue in non-tumor cells in vivo. In addition, it
sensitizes cells to the effect of cisplatin; hence, curcumin,
alone or in combination with chemotherapy, might be used as an
alternative treatment for breast cancer.
Curcumin Prevents Diabetic Osteoporosis through
Promoting Osteogenesis and Angiogenesis Coupling via NF-κB
Signaling
Evidence-Based Complementary and
Alternative Medicine | November 2022
Curcumin, an effective
component extracted from Curcuma longa, exhibits antioxidation,
regulation of bone metabolism and hypoglycemic effects.
Treatment prevented bone loss and promoted vessel formation in
diabetic osteoporosis mice. Based on these results, we concluded
that curcumin ameliorated diabetic osteoporosis.. Reports
demonstrate that curcumin may ameliorate bone microarchitecture
and enhance BMD in APP/PS1 transgenic mice and has shown bone
protective effect on postmenopausal osteoporosis animal models
and patients. More importantly, recent studies have found the
therapeutic value of curcumin on osteoporosis induced by
diabetes. The benefits of curcumin on bone formation and
regeneration are attributed to its capacity to reduce
H2O2-stimulated osteoblast apoptosis, improving osteoblast
mitochondrial function, and recovering the high glucose-impaired
osteogenic differentiation of osteoblast and BMSCs. To our
knowledge, this is the first to confirm that curcumin prevents
diabetes-induced bone loss by promoting BMSC-mediated
osteogenesis and angiogenesis coupling. In this study, our
results showed that curcumin treatment rescued high
glucose-inhibited osteogenic differentiation ability of BMSCs in
vitro. Furthermore, our in vivo results also revealed that
curcumin prevented bone loss in diabetic mice. Our findings
reveal the effects of curcumin in promoting the BMSCs-mediated
osteogenesis and angiogenesis coupling in high glucose
conditions. These impacts are preliminarily considered to be via
NF-κB signaling pathway inhibition. Furthermore, curcumin may
become a potential drug to prevent and treat diabetic
osteoporosis through promoting bone regeneration and vessel
formation.
In patients with osteoarthritis, is curcumin,
compared to placebo, effective in reducing pain?
Journal of the Oklahoma State Medical Association | November
2022
Yes. Studies have shown that curcumin extract has
benefit in treating osteoarthritic pain, compared to placebo. It
is reasonable to use curcumin in addition to traditional
osteoarthritis treatments, as studies show it has a low side
effect profile. Curcumin is a bright yellow powder derived from
turmeric, and has been used for centuries in alternative
medicine for its anti-inflammatory properties. Subjects took 500
mg of curcimin plus 5 mg piperine extract (to enhance
bioavailability) three times daily for 6 weeks. WOMAC
scores for patients taking curcumin averaged 37, while those
taking placebo averaged 57. Results from this literature review
suggest that curcumin can be considered by physicians as an
adjunctive therapy to traditional therapies for osteoarthritis,
as it does appear to offer benefit in pain relief compared to
placebo. Although more evidence is needed to support curcumin as
a replacement for NSAIDs or other mainstay therapies, the
results of the studies reviewed are promising. Larger trials to
investigate the efficacy of curcumin compared to NSAIDs would be
appropriate. However, curcumin appears to be a safe and
effective addition to osteoarthritis treatments for patients,
and should not be overlooked by physicians.
Curcumin protects retinal neuronal cells against
oxidative stress-induced damage by regulating mitochondrial
dynamics
Experimental Eye Research |
November 2022
Data indicate that curcumin protects against
oxidative stress-induced injury in retinal neuronal cells by
promoting mitochondrial fusion. Curcumin has anti-inflammatory,
antimutagenic and antimicrobial properties, and has been
administrated for asthma, diabetes and cancer in traditional
medicine for a long history (Nabavi et al., 2015; Qadir et al.,
2016; Shahid et al., 2019). Curcumin has been found to regulate
the apoptosis, proliferation, transformation and metastasis of
cancer cells by inhibiting NF-κB signaling (Aggarwal et al.,
2006). Curcumin also exerts its anti-inflammatory function via
downregulation of COX-2, PGE-2 and proinflammatory factors
including IL-1, 6, 8 and TNF-α or upregulation of peroxisome
proliferator-activated receptor-γ (Michalik et al., 2006; Taylor
and Leonard, 2011). In addition, several studies indicate that
curcumin also shows therapeutic effect on several retinal
diseases including primary retinitis, age-related macular
degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma (Nebbioso et
al., 2021). Pretreatment with curcumin effectively attenuated
H2O2-induced mitochondrial fission, and inhibited the
intracellular ROS generation, mitochondrial membrane potential
disruption, PINK1 expression, caspase-3 cleavage and apoptosis
in R28 cells. Notably, knockdown of mitochondrial fusion protein
Mfn2 dramatically attenuated curcumin's protection against
H2O2-induced growth inhibition in R28 cells. In conclusion, our
results indicate that mitochondrial fusion plays a vital role in
curcumin-mediated protection against oxidative stress-induced
retinal neuronal damage, and also suggesting mitochondria as a
crucial target for the protection of neurons.
Effects of curcumin-piperine supplementation on
systemic immunity in young women with premenstrual syndrome and
dysmenorrhea: A randomized clinical trial
European Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology, Reproductive Biology
| November 2022
Curcumin decreased the serum immunoglobulin E
(IgE) levels in women with premenstrual syndrome and
dysmenorrhea. Curcumin + piperine treatment was associated with
a significant reduction in the mean serum levels of
immunoglobulin E (IgE). Curcumin plus piperine might have
positive effect on serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels with no
significant changes on serum IL-10 and IL-12 in healthy young
women with PMS and PD. Studies with higher doses and longer
durations of treatment with curcumin are required to confirm
these findings.
Alzheimer’s disease large-scale gene expression
portrait identifies exercise and curcumin as top theoretical
treatments
Scientific Reports | October
2022
For the Alzheimer’s disease portrait, the top three
scoring treatments for reversing Alzheimer’s disease expression
with little effect on exacerbating Alzheimer’s disease
expression were for exercise. Overall, the ranking of treatments
was similar for male and female portrait, although in males,
curcumin was the second highest ranked treatment.
Isolation and In silico Study of Curcumin from
Curcuma longa and Its Anti-Diabetic Activity
Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology | October2022
The
development of new drugs from natural products is still
challenging, and the most extensively studied plant material is
turmeric, Curcuma longa, which is the chief source of
curcumin. Curcumin is a bright yellow solid. Based on the
findings, it can be said that curcumin, a natural substance, has
good therapeutic qualities when it is isolated.
The Pharmacological Mechanism of Curcumin against
Drug Resistance in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine | October
2022
Curcumin is commonly utilized for the treatment of
various cancers (e.g., breast cancer and hematological cancers).
It has been found to have anticancer activity in non-small
cell lung cancer. Increasing evidence showed that curcumin could
enhance immune function via various mechanisms. It was revealed
that curcumin could enhance tumor antigen-specific T-cell
induction in cancer cells. Curcumin inhibited CSN5 expression in
cancer cells and sensitized them to anti-CTLA4 therapy.
Additionally, curcumin could reverse resistance to targeted
medicines. Curcumin overcomes primary gefitinib resistance in
non-small cell lung cancercells by causing cell death related to
autophagy. Curcumin enhances gefitinib’s sensitivity by
inhibiting cell proliferation and suppressing clonogenic
capacity in NCI-H1975 cells. Curcumin can also enhance the
effect of chemotherapy drugs. A previous study demonstrated that
curcumin and doxorubicin work together more effectively in
treating Hodgkin lymphoma. Curcumin in combination with
immunotherapy, chemotherapy, or targeted drugs has the potential
to be effective for drug-resistant non-small cell lung cancer.
Curcumin regulates drug sensitivity in non-small cell lung
cancerby interacting with cell cycle, NF-kappa B, MAPK, Th17
cell differentiation signaling pathways, etc. The findings of
our study reveal the relevant key signaling pathways and targets
of curcumin as an adjuvant therapy in the treatment of non-small
cell lung cancer, thus providing pharmacological evidence for
further experimental research.
Antitoxic Effects of Curcumin against
Obesity-Induced Multi-Organs’ Biochemical and Histopathological
Abnormalities in an Animal Model
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine | October
2022
Curcumin exerted potent antitoxic, antioxidant,
tissue-protective, and antiobesity effects. Curcumin is
recommended to be added to various dietary regimens to prevent
or delay the organs’ dysfunction among obese people. The most
significant phenolic ingredient in turmeric is called curcumin,
and it is yellow in color and is a natural phenolic antioxidant.
Due to its biological and pharmacological characteristics, which
include antioxidant and anti-inflammatory features, curcumin has
received a lot of interest in various research studies,
including human or experimental animal models in various
diseases, including obesity. Genetic analyses of the related
inflammatory signaling pathways (via assessments of adipose
tissue expressions of TLR4, IL-6, and TNF-α) were performed to
explore the potential mechanistic benefits of curcumin in
reversing these metabolic abnormalities. Coadministration of
curcumin with a high-fat diet group exhibited significantly
decreased serum insulin and glucose levels when compared with
the high-fat diet group. In parallel with our results, Hartogh
et al. reported that by lowering the harmful effects of liver
fat and increasing cell sensitivity to insulin, curcumin can
lower blood glucose levels in obese rats. The present results
could be attributed to the ability of curcumin to reduce
oxidative stress and inflammatory response which contributed to
insulin resistance. Similarly, curcumin treatment attenuated
glucose intolerance and boost insulin sensitizing response.
Furthermore, curcumin administration caused strong induction of
the antioxidant defenses, since SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px activities
were significantly increased, reaching values similar to those
of the control group. Curcumin’s effects may act by either
directly scavenging the reactive oxygen metabolites or due to
the presence of various antioxidant principles such as
flavonoids, steroids, tannins, glycosides, triterpenoids, and
polyphenolic compounds. The anti-inflammatory effects of
curcumin form the basis of its potential clinical applications.
In the present study, curcumin significantly reduces the
inflammation state in high-fat diet group. Curcumin is an
excellent antioxidant agent and has an effective role in the
regression of DNA damage. Interestingly, the current study
demonstrated that administration of curcumin to the high-fat
diet group provided protection against hepatic disorders,
duodenal and myocardial histopathological changes as confirmed
by these results are in line with those of many researchers who
found a marked reduction in steatosis of hepatocytes and an
improvement in liver histopathology. It is likely to postulate
that the antioxidative property of curcumin is the key to its
therapeutic effect on gastrointestinal injury as documented by
many researchers. Moreover, Gorabi et al. revealed that high-fat
diet plus curcumin showed no histopathological changes in the
myocardial structure, indicating a preventive effect of curcumin
against histological cardiac changes induced by a high-fat diet.
There is no doubt that the use of curcumin improved the
histological findings as well as modulated metabolic and
oxidative stress markers, as well as downregulated inflammatory
biomarkers and apoptosis. Therefore, it is advised that curcumin
be evaluated as a possible supplemental therapy for metabolic
diseases linked to obesity brought on by high-fat diet.
Curcumin
strengthens immunity by helping the generation of immune cells
such as T cells and B cells
International
Curry and Spices Symposium | October 2022
Immune cells such
as B cells increased significantly in the lymph glands of rats
administered with curcumin. Curcumin helps to produce antibodies
and can contribute to the prevention of various infectious
diseases such as the flu and colds and cancer. Curcumin is a
yellow pigment component of turmeric, the main ingredient in
curry, and is known to have excellent antioxidant and
anti-inflammatory effects. Curcumin in turmeric has anti-cancer,
anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects by inhibiting the
activity of inflammation-related genes.
Roles of Curcumin on Cognitive Impairment Induced by
a Mixture of Heavy Metals
Neurotoxicity
Research | October 2022
The most important pathways involved
in curcumin's protective activity against heavy metals were
categorized as "regulation of neuron apoptotic process” and
"negative regulation of apoptotic signaling route”. Curcumin was
also well-positioned inside the CASP3 binding region. Three key
miRNAs linked to cognitive impairment, mixed heavy metals, and
curcumin were observed. These miRNAs were found to be related to
the important pathways related to cognitive impairment and
involved in curcumin's protective activity against mixed heavy
metals such as "apoptosis multiple species”, “apoptosis”, and
“Alzheimer’s disease”. Curcumin's physicochemical
characteristics and pharmacokinetics are consistent with its
therapeutic benefits in cognitive impairment, owing to its high
gastrointestinal absorption and ability to cross the blood–brain
barrier. Our findings emphasize the protective effects of
curcumin in cognitive impairment caused by heavy metal mixtures
and pave the way for molecular mechanisms involved in cognitive
impairment pathology.
Protective effects of curcumin against traumatic
brain injury
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy
| October 2022
Curcumin has a broad range of clinical
properties due to its considerable antioxidative and
anti-inflammatory actions. This review discusses the pleiotropic
mechanisms, the side effects, curcumin's delivery to the central
nervous system (CNS), and its immunomodulatory and protective
effects on traumatic brain injury. Clinical trials, in
vivo, and in vitro studies were extracted from different
scientific databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Google
Scholar, to assess the effects of curcumin or its derivatives in
traumatic brain injury. Findings reveal that curcumin exhibited
some protective effects on traumatic brain injury via
modulation of cell signaling pathways including toll-like
receptor-4 (TLR-4), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), and Nod-like
receptor family proteins (NLRPs). Moreover, curcumin upregulates
the brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor/Tropomyosin receptor
kinase B (BDNF/TrkB) signaling pathway,
phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT),
nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), which have
crucial functions in modulation of TBI
pathophysiological-mediated pathways. Curcumin displays
beneficial immunomodulatory functions and protective capacities
in different traumatic brain injury models.
Curcumin: An overview
Journal
of Medicinal Plants Studies | October 2022
Curcumin is the
active ingredient in the herbal remedy and dietary spice
turmeric, having a wide range of therapeutic properties that
covers antimicrobial, immune-health, multiple myeloma and
cancers of various categories. Curcumin has been shown to
exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral,
antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer activities and thus
has a potential against various malignant diseases, diabetes,
allergies, arthritis, Alzheimer's disease, and other chronic
illnesses. Curcumin inhibits the growth of Helicobacter
pylori, which causes gastric ulcers and has been linked
with gastric cancers. Extracts of turmeric and its
curcumin component exhibit strong antioxidant activity
comparable to vitamins C & E. Several studies have demonstrated
curcumin's ability to reduce oxidative stress. It appears that
curcumin's role as an antioxidant may be due in part to its
ability to down regulate nitric oxide formation. It has been
proved already that curcumin down -regulates NF- kappaB in human
multiple myeloma cells, leading to the suppression of
proliferation and induction of apoptosis, thus providing the
molecular basis for the treatment of multiple myeloma with this
pharmacologically safe agent. Pharmacological studies have
demonstrated that curcumin from Curcuma longa is an
anti-mutagen as well as an anti-promotor for cancer.
The Role of Phytochemicals in the Treatment of
Colorectal Cancer
Onco Therapeutics |
October 2022
Phytochemicals like curcumin are naturally
occurring and are known to exhibit anti-cancer activity against
colorectal cancer by regulating various key signaling pathways
including the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. By regulating
vital molecular pathways, the course of colorectal cancer can be
positively altered. The evidence outlined within this literature
review suggests the significance of these phytochemicals as
preventive agents and their potential role in developing
effective therapies. This review emphasizes the molecular
mechanisms of curcumin, resveratrol, and sulforaphane that can
effectively target colorectal cancer development and
progression.
Review On Curcuma Longa Effect On Human Health
Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research |
September 2022
Curcumin is the phytochemical derived from the
bulb of the plant Curcuma longa and is the major
component of turmeric. The herb has been used for thousands of
years. It aids in the management of oxidative and inflammatory
conditions, metabolic syndrome, arthritis, It may also help in
the management of exercise-induced inflammation and muscle
soreness, thus enhancing recovery and performance in active
people. Most of these benefits can be attributed to its
antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Curcumin from the
herb turmeric has been used for thousands of years. It aids in
the management of oxidative and inflammatory conditions,
metabolic syndrome, arthritis, It may also help in the
management of exercise-induced inflammation and muscle soreness,
thus enhancing recovery and performance in active people. Most
of these benefits can be attributed to its antioxidant and anti-
inflammatory effects. It has also demonstrated hepatoprotective,
nephroprotective, neuroprotective, and cardioprotective
properties. These characteristics provide the foundation for its
therapeutic uses and the rationale for clinical trials. Many
other medicinal and pharmacological properties of curcumin used
for humans. In Ayurveda, curcumin has been used for various
medicinal conditions including rhinitis, wound healing, common
cold, skin infections, liver and urinary tract diseases.
Curcumin was found to be effective even when given by different
routes including topical, oral or by inhalation, dependent on
the intended use.
Curcumin Targeting Non-Coding RNAs in Colorectal Cancer:
Therapeutic and Biomarker Implications
Biomolecules | September 2022
Curcumin has shown potent
anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory effects and is considered a hot
spot in the research and development of anti-tumor drugs due to
its advantages of precise efficacy, lower toxic side effects,
and less drug resistance. Recent studies have revealed that
curcumin has anti-tumor effects exerted on the epigenetic
regulation of tumor-promoting/tumor-suppressing gene expression
through the alteration of expression levels of non-coding RNAs.
Curcumin has been approved as a food additive by the World
Health Organization and the US Food and Drug Administration and
has been listed as a third-generation cancer chemoprevention
drug by the National Cancer Institute of the United States due
to its safety, non-toxicity, and lack of adverse effects.
Curcumin has a non-toxic chemical composition; almost all types
of tumor markers can be regulated by it to exert an anti-tumor
effect; undoubtedly, this provides a strong theoretical basis
for cancer treatment. Studies have shown that curcumin could
exert an anti-tumor effect both in vitro and in vivo through
different mechanisms, including inhibiting the invasion,
metastasis, and proliferation of tumor cells, inducing tumor
cell apoptosis and autophagy, and resisting chemotherapy
resistance. Recent studies have shown that curcumin is widely
used as an anti-tumor agent because it regulates ncRNAs based on
an epigenetic regulation mechanism; there are benefits to using
curcumin in the treatment of colorectal cancer. Its
anti-colorectal cancer effect is essentially through the
indirect regulation of target genes or signaling pathways. In
summary, these findings could provide favorable evidence for
exploring the role of curcumin in the treatment of colorectal
cancer via non-coding RNAs, which may provide new directions for
the treatment and prognosis of colorectal cancer patients.
Curcumin could affect the development of colorectal cancer by
targeting oncogenes or tumor-suppressor genes; its
anti-colorectal cancer effect is essentially through the
indirect regulation of target genes or signaling pathways.
Treated by curcumin, Lnc NBR2, Lnc KCNQ1OT1, Lnc PANDAR, and Lnc
CCAT1 could prove to be potentially effective target molecules
in the treatment progress of colorectal cancer. In
summary, these findings could provide favorable evidence for
exploring the role of curcumin in the treatment of colorectal
cancer via non-coding RNAs, which may provide new directions for
the treatment and prognosis of colorectal cancer patients.
Non-coding RNAs can be potential therapeutic targets for the
occurrence and development of colorectal cancer, and
curcumin-targeted non-coding RNAs have good biomarker and
reference significance for the treatment of colorectal cancer.
The effect of eight weeks of Pilates with curcumin
supplementation on liver enzymes and lipid profile in overweight
and obese women
Obesity Medicine |
September 2022
Curcumin supplement significantly improve
liver enzymes. Pilates training plus Curcumin supplement
significantly decreased anthropometry indices. Pilates and
Curcumin alone or in combination led to significant changes in
lipid profile. The results showed that weight, BMI, WHR and PBF
decreased in the curcumin + Pilates group compared to the other
groups. According to the results, an 8-week Pilates and curcumin
alone or in combination reduced serum ALT, LDL-C, TG and T-Chol
compared with the control group. Also, serum AST levels
decreased from 23.75 ± 2.14 to 19.37 ± 1.98 in the curcumin
group. Eight weeks of intervention with Pilates and curcumin
alone or in combination seemed effective in improving lipid
profile and reducing ALT enzyme levels in overweight and obese
females. It also appears that the AST enzyme is only affected by
curcumin supplementation.
Curcumin in the treatment of urological cancers:
Therapeutic targets, challenges and prospects
Life Sciences | September 2022
Curcumin has been widely used
in cancer treatment due to its ability to trigger cell death and
suppress metastasis. The beneficial effects of curcumin in the
treatment of urological cancers is the focus of current review.
Curcumin can induce apoptosis in the three types of urological
cancers limiting their proliferative potential. Furthermore,
curcumin can suppress invasion of urological cancers through EMT
inhibition. Notably, curcumin decreases the expression of MMPs,
therefore interfering with urological cancer metastasis. When
used in combination with chemotherapy agents, curcumin displays
synergistic effects in suppressing cancer progression. It can
also be used as a chemosensitizer. Based on pre-clinical
studies, curcumin administration is beneficial in the treatment
of urological cancers and future clinical applications might be
considered upon solving problems related to the poor
bioavailability of the compound.
The effects of curcumin in learning and memory
impairment associated with hypothyroidism in juvenile rats: the
role of nitric oxide, oxidative stress, and brain-derived
neurotrophic factor
Behavioural
Pharmacology | September 2022
Curcumin enhanced the
performance of the rats in both MWM and PA tests. In addition,
curcumin reduced malondialdehyde concentration and NO
metabolites; however, it increased thiol content as well as the
activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase enzymes in both
the cortex and hippocampus. Curcumin also increased hippocampal
synthesis of BDNF in hypothyroid rats. The beneficial effects of
curcumin cognitive function in juvenile hypothyroid rats might
be attributed to its protective effect against oxidative stress
and potentiation of BDNF production.
Curcumin Modulates Oxidative Stress, Fibrosis, and Apoptosis
in Drug-Resistant Cancer Cell Lines
Life |
September 2022
The present study shows that curcumin induces
anticancer activity against resistant cancer cell lines in a
concentration and time-dependent manner. The protective
activities of curcumin against the growth of cancer cells are
mediated by modulating oxidative stress, regulating fibrosis,
SIRT1 activation, and inducing cellular apoptosis. The
bio-functional properties of curcumin and its derivatives - such
as anti-tumor, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities -
have gained much attention in combating many human diseases,
particularly cancer. Curcumin’s natural phenolic, hydrophobic,
and antioxidant properties help it to diffuse through cancer
cell membranes into the mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and
nucleus to perform chemo-preventive, antimetastatic, and
anti-angiogenic actions. Curcumin has been reported to exert its
chemotherapeutic efficacy through targeting several molecular
pathways involved in mutagenesis, cell cycle regulation,
tumorigenesis, apoptosis, and metastasis. Moreover, several
studies showed that curcumin significantly reduces fibrosis via
suppressing the overproduction of collagen-linked factors such
as hydroxyproline, fibronectin, and TGF-β1 in cancer cells. In
breast cancer, curcumin is shown to suppress the spread of
cancer cells to other parts of the body. In addition, curcumin
regulates different signaling pathways, especially breast cancer
gene. In colon cancer, curcumin induces FADD (Fas-Associated
Protein With Death Domain), triggering apoptosis. Moreover,
it inhibits colon cancer metastasis. Similarly, in lung cancer,
curcumin modulates the circ-PRKCA/miR-384/ITGB1 pathway,
suppressing the malignancy of lung carcinoma. It also reduces
migration and invasion of lung carcinoma. Curcumin has been
reported to sensitize tumor cells to chemotherapeutic drugs and
ionizing radiation therapy. In conclusion, curcumin induces
anticancer activity against sensitive and drug-resistant cancer
cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. The
protective activities of curcumin against the growth of cancer
cells are mediated by modulating oxidative stress, regulating
fibrosis, SIRT1 activation, and inducing cellular apoptosis.
Therefore, curcumin could be tested as an auxiliary therapeutic
agent for current treatments to improve the prognosis in
patients with drug-resistant cancer.
Curcumin as adjuvant treatment in patients with
non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD) disease: A systematic review
and meta-analysis
Complementary Therapies
in Medicine | September 2022
Curcumin has been shown to
improve non-alcoholic fatty liver disease’s severity and
increase liver steatosis resolution compared to the placebo
groups. Curcumin was also found to reduce triglycerides if taken
more than eight weeks’ duration. There is no major side
effect, and our findings showed no difference in the adverse
effect. Curcumin is acknowledged as a powerful antioxidant and
anti-inflammatory agent. A review reported that the consumption
of curcumin significantly reduced liver enzymes, decreased
low-density lipoprotein and total cholesterol among
non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients. Another review found
curcumin showed significant effects on fasting blood sugar,
insulin level, and homeostasis model of assessment insulin
resistance among women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Curcumin
is anticipated to function as antiviral drugs to treat the
current COVID-19 virus based on in vitro and in vivo studies as
it showed high inhibitory activity towards the virus. Goodarzi
and Jalali found that curcumin reduced liver enzymes in
non-alcoholic fatty liver disease compared to the placebo group,
which is similar to our findings. Mansour-Ghanaei and Wei showed
that curcumin reduced aspartate aminotransferase. Our finding is
similar to Jalali that curcumin reduced total cholesterol in
participants compared to the placebo group. Wei and Jalali
showed that curcumin reduced the low-density lipoprotein
compared to the placebo group. Wei also showed that curcumin
reduces triglycerides compared to the placebo group. Curcumin
reduced BMI in participants with the non-alcoholic fatty liver
disease compared to the placebo group. Besides improving the
liver ultrasonographic findings, curcumin also reduced serum
liver enzymes, total cholesterol, and BMI. There is no major
side effect, and our findings showed no difference in the
adverse effect between the two groups. Our meta-analysis shows
that curcumin has favorable effect on liver ultrasonographic
findings, reduced serum liver enzymes, total cholesterol, and
BMI in participants with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Therefore, promoting curcumin as an adjuvant treatment on NAFLD
patients might be justified.
Prevention of Female Reproductive Disorders with the
Help of Curcumin
Journal of Antimicrobial
Agents | September 2022
Various examinations on Curcumin have
exhibited its many advantages because of its cell reinforcement,
hostile to disease, against joint inflammation, against
asthmatic, against microbial, against viral and against
parasitic properties. Curcumin shows huge cancer prevention
agent properties by breaking the chain response of free extreme
creation. Likewise, curcumin diminished the protein reactions
engaged with aggravation processes, for example, those of cancer
rot factor alpha, interleukin-1, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-12.
Curcumin has been displayed to hinder the actuation of TNF-α in
the NF-κB pathway and kill the receptive oxygen species, causing
oxidative pressure. As oxidative pressure and irritation are in
most persistent sicknesses, curcumin supplementation could
altogether offer different medical advantages. Coorganization of
curcumin with piperine, an alkaloid in dark pepper, improves
curcumin's bioavailability by up to 2000 percent.
Anti-migratory effect of curcumin on A-549 lung
cancer cells
Hormone Molecular Biology and
Clinical Investigation | September 2022
Curcumin inhibited
lung cancer cells through various molecular pathways. RECK/MMPs
axis as a regulator of cancer cell migration was modulated after
curcumin treatment and invasion of lung cancer cells was
decreased. The results of MTT assay showed that the cytotoxic
effect of curcumin was in a dose dependent manner. Flow
cytometry results demonstrated a significant increase in the
percentage of apoptotic cells in curcumin treated group. In
addition, curcumin inhibited migration rate in lung cancer
cells.
A network pharmacology approach to identify the
mechanisms and molecular targets of curcumin against Alzheimer's
disease
Medicine | September 2022
Curcumin and its metabolites possess anti-inflammatory,
antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antiviral activities. Further,
in recent years, the literature reports that curcumin has
beneficial effects in diseases of the neurological system,
including Alzheimer's disease. Curcumin suppresses the formation
and promotes the disaggregation of amyloid-β plaques, attenuates
the hyperphosphorylation of tau, and enhances its clearance.
available studies indicate that curcumin has been widely used in
neurodegenerative diseases. A recent study indicated that
curcumin could improve lipid metabolic disorders by the ATP
binding cassette A1 transmembrane transport system in
Alzheimer's disease. In addition, curcumin improves parkinsonian
disability scores in vivo and inhibits PC12 cell death in vitro
by inhibiting AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, which is mediated by
autophagy. As valuable targets for Alzheimer's disease
treatment, curcumin can systematically improve the pathological
features of stroke through multifactorial, multitarget, and
multipathway. In summary, curcumin has the potential to be more
effective than current treatments.
Curcumin as a novel approach in improving lipid
profile: An umbrella meta-analysis
Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases
| September 2022
Curcumin supplementation significantly
reduced serum levels of LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and total
cholesterol. Curcumin intake significantly increased
high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol) levels.
Curcumin has ameliorating effects on triglycerides, total
cholesterol, LDL-c, and HDL-c levels. Overall, curcumin could be
recommended as an adjuvant anti-hyperlipidemic agent. We showed
that curcumin supplementation could be effective for lipid
profile.
Antitumor effect of infrared whole-body hyperthermia
with curcumin in breast cancer
Medical
Applications | September 2022
Curcumin has traditionally been
used as a food additive or as a remedy in traditional medicine
for its anticancer and non-toxic effects. Thus, this research
proposed the combination of curcumin and IHT as an alternative
to chemotherapy in breast cancer treatment. Results showed that
tumor growth inhibition and body weight gain in the combination
treatment group are significantly different compared
to control. The group also had the longest median survival time
(42 days) with no mortality observed during the experiment. This
result indicates that the combination treatment is well
tolerated by the mice and has negligible levels of toxicity.
Platelet to Lymphocyte Ratio) and Neutrophils to
Lymphocytes Ratio results indicate that the combination
treatment has better prognosis outcome than single
treatment and may become a potential alternative antitumor
treatment of breast cancer.
Synergistic anticancer effects of curcumin and
crocin on human colorectal cancer cells
Molecular Biology Reports | September 2022
Curcumin, a
polyphenol compound derived from the Curcuma longa L,
and crocin, a hydrophilic carotenoid from Crocus Sativus
Linnaeus, are traditionally used in food preparations in many
countries and could act as chemopreventive compounds against
several diseases, including cancer. Based on the obtained
results, curcumin and crocin treatment could cooperatively
reduce cell viability and induce apoptosis in SW-480 cells by
modulating the expression of Bax, Bcl-2, Caspase-3, Caspase-8,
Caspase-9, Jak2, Stat3, and Akt1 genes. Besides, curcumin and
crocin were able to synergistically increase the cell cycle
arrest at the sub G1 phase, induce autophagy and decrease the
clonogenic ability of SW-480 cells. These results suggested that
curcumin and crocin combination could be considered a more
effective therapeutic strategy for inhibiting colorectal cancer.
Curcumin against gastrointestinal cancer: A review
of the pharmacological mechanisms underlying its antitumor
activity
Frontiers in Pharmacology |
September 2022
Gastrointestinal cancer poses a serious threat
to human health globally. Curcumin, a hydrophobic polyphenol
extracted from the rhizome of Curcuma longa, has shown reliable
anticancer function and low toxicity, thereby offering broad
research prospects. Numerous studies have demonstrated the
pharmacological mechanisms underlying the effectiveness of
curcumin against GIC, including the induction of apoptosis and
autophagy, arrest of the cell cycle, inhibition of the
epithelial–mesenchymal transition processes, inhibition of cell
invasion and migration, regulation of multiple signaling
pathways, sensitization to chemotherapy and reversal of
resistance to such treatments, and regulation of the tumor
survival environment. It has been confirmed that curcumin exerts
its antitumor effects on GIC through these mechanisms in vitro
and in vivo. Moreover, treatment with curcumin is safe and tolerable.
It has been reported that curcumin promoted pyroptosis in liver
cancer cells (Li W.-f. et al, 2021), induced necroptosis in
prostate and lung cancer cells (Lee et al., 2021), and induced
ferroptosis in breast (Li et al., 2020) and lung cancer cells
(Tang et al., 2021). Curcumin has exhibited good antitumor
activity and low toxicity. Newly discovered types of
regulated cell death, such as pyroptosis, necroptosis, and
ferroptosis, may provide a new direction for research on the
efficacy of curcumin against GIC. Curcumin is the most important
component of the rhizomes of turmeric (Curcuma longa) (Waly
et al., 2018). Curcumin is a hydrophobic polyphenol that has
been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration based on
its bio-safety (Mashayekhi-Sardoo et al., 2021). Moreover, it
has demonstrated a wide range of pharmacological activities,
such as antibacterial (Ibarra-Martinez et al., 2022),
anti-inflammatory (Yan et al., 2021), antioxidant (Xu et al.,
2021), and antitumor (Zhang et al., 2020). Curcumin has been
widely reported to inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells in a
concentration-and time-dependent manner in vitro (Li et al.,
2017a; Fan et al., 2020; Mao et al., 2021). In numerous studies,
curcumin, a plant extract with a good safety profile, has
exhibited pharmacological effects on GIC both in vivo and in
vitro. As demonstrated in the present review, curcumin can
effectively inhibit GlC through multiple targets, mechanisms,
and pathways.
Curcumin Remedies Testicular Function and
Spermatogenesis in Male Mice with Low-Carbohydrate-Diet-Induced
Metabolic Dysfunction
International
Journal of Molecular Sciences | September 2022
Low
carbohydrate diet and ketogenic diet groups had significantly
lower testosterone concentrations than the normal diet group. In
contrast, the diet treated with curcumin supplementation group
had an increased testosterone concentration level. Curcumin
increases the testosterone level through upregulating 17β-HSD
expression. Curcumin, a powdered rhizome of Curcuma longa,
is considered a powerful antioxidant. The antioxidant capacity
of curcumin can be divided into the direct removal of reactive
oxygen species (ROS) and indirect activation of antioxidant
enzymes activities. These properties are related to the chemical
structure of curcumin, which includes bios-α, β-unsaturated
β-diketone, two methoxy groups, two phenolic hydroxy groups and
two conjugated bonds, which might play important roles in
anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative activities. A
randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial
showed that curcumin supplementation could increase sperm
quality, including total sperm count, sperm concentration and
motility, and improved the total antioxidant capacity of plasma,
malondialdehyde, C-reactive protein and tumor necrosis factor
(TNF). Curcumin, a phenolic compound extracted from the Curcuma
longa rhizome, has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and
anti-mutative properties. The present study shows that curcumin
improved the percentage of morphologically normal sperm and
testicular morphology. Alizadeh et al. showed that curcumin
could improve sperm count, concentration and motility in
patients with asthenoteratospermia. It is speculated that
curcumin, with a conjugated structure and an enol form, could
scavenge free radicals and increase the activity of antioxidant
enzymes, thereby improving sperm quality. The study shows that
oral curcumin (80 mg/kg) can lower lipid accumulation in liver
and adipose tissue and improve the insulin sensitivity of male
C57BL/6 mice with a 60% high-fat diet. Oral administration of
curcumin (80 mg/kg) in Sprague Dawley rats with a 60% high-fat
diet feeding showed anti-hyperglycemic, anti-lipolytic and
anti-inflammatory effects by attenuating TNF-α levels. In ICR
mice with spermatogenic disorders induced by scrotal heat
stress, administrating curcumin (80 mg/kg) by intragastric
intubation, also had antioxidative, anti-apoptotic and androgen
synthesis effects. Our results show that a
low-carbohydrate diet caused a lower sperm quality and a damaged
testicular histology. Administrating curcumin (80 mg/kg) could
partially reverse this condition. Mu et al. showed that
curcumin reversed high-fat-diet-induced decreased expressions of
Fas, Bax and cleaved caspase 3, and increased the expression of
Bcl-xl. In summary, the results of our study confirmed that a
low-carbohydrate diet led to a lower sperm quality and damaged
testicular histology. Supplementation with curcumin may improve
the impaired sperm and testis function via decreasing oxidative
stress, inflammation and apoptosis.
Anti-proliferation effects of apatinib in
combination with curcumin in breast cancer cells
Hormone Molecular Biology and Clinical Investigation | September
2022
The obtained results showed that all treatments of
apatinib, curcumin, and apatinib-curcumin significantly
decreased viability and proliferation of the breast cancer cells
in a concentration‐ and time‐dependent manner. Curcumin and
Apatinib-Curcumin increased apoptosis percentage in the treated
cancer cells through regulation of apoptosis-related genes
expression.
ERK1/2-Dependent Inhibition of Glycolysis in
Curcumin-Induced Cytotoxicity of Prostate Carcinoma Cells
BioMed Research International | September 2022
Curcumin
exerts chemotherapeutic effects on various types of cancers by
disrupting mitochondrial homeostasis and enhancing cellular
oxidative stress. Inhibition of ERK1/2 activation seems to serve
as an upstream event explaining the antiglycolytic and cytotoxic
roles of curcumin in prostate carcinoma cells preadapted to
acidic conditions. Numerous studies have shown that the growth
inhibitory effect of curcumin on various tumor cells is mediated
through actions on numerous molecules in the signaling pathway,
including p53, NF-κB, mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK),
Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), Notch-1, nuclear
factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), Wnt/β-catenin, Janus
kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription
(STAT), and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Recently,
curcumin has been reported to suppress the Warburg effect in
various cancer cell lines by downregulating PKM2 expression
through inhibition of the mTOR/HIF-1α axis. In a previous study,
we reported the preferential cytotoxicity and mechanism of
curcumin on PC-3AcT cells that showed high resistance to
docetaxel, compared to parental PC-3 cells. Interestingly,
curcumin was shown to have the activity of co-inducing apoptosis
and necroptosis by increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS)
production and decreasing intracellular ATP content in human
prostate carcinoma cells preadapted to lactic acid-containing
media. Results provide mechanistic evidence for the
antiglycolytic and cytotoxic roles of curcumin through
inhibition of the MEK/ERK signaling pathway in prostate
carcinoma cells preadapted to acidic conditions. It is important
to note that curcumin promotes both apoptosis and necroptosis
for prostate cancer cells exhibiting the Warburg phenotype by
acting as a dual inhibitor of glycolysis and mitochondrial
function.
Piperine Enhances the Antimalarial Activity of
Curcumin in Plasmodium berghei ANKA-Infected Mice: A Novel
Approach for Malaria Prophylaxis
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine |
September 2022
Curcumin has numerous pharmacological,
antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticarcinogenic activities.
Previous studies have reported the health beneficial effects of
dietary polyphenols, e.g., curcumin from turmeric for preventive
or therapeutic purposes in various types of cancer. Furthermore,
curcumin has well-known cytotoxic and parasiticidal effects on
protozoan parasites in vitro (e.g., Leishmania, Giardia,
Trypanosoma, and Plasmodium falciparum). Several studies have
shown the beneficial impacts of curcumin as an antimalarial
agent. For example, curcumin plays a role in disrupting
Plasmodium organelles such as apicoplast, microtubules, and
PfATP6 as well as affecting parasite chromatin modification
through HAT inhibition. In addition, curcumin may promote the
immune response against Plasmodium via increasing the reactive
oxygen species. Furthermore, curcumin inhibits glycogen synthase
kinase-3β (GSK3β), which affects the production of the
proinflammatory cytokines by inhibiting the transcriptional
activity of NF-κB. Nonetheless, the poor bioavailability of
curcumin due to expansive intestinal and hepatic metabolism
along with rapid elimination restricts its clinical use.
However, the absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion,
and toxicity (ADMET) of a therapeutic could be achieved by
combining with bioenhancers like piperine. The combination
of piperine and curcumin can enhance the bioavailability of
curcumin in human and animal models. Recent studies
reviewed that the curcumin and piperine combination possibly has
prophylactic activity. The combination of curcumin and piperine
provided a good antimalarial activity with a synergistic effect
on Plasmodium berghei ANKA-infected mice, including inhibition
of parasitemia, delayed onset of clinical signs, and prolonged
survival rate. In addition, the low parasitic load in the liver,
lack of elevation in ALT and AST serum, and good
histopathological features of the liver suggest that piperine
may serve as a potential partner that can be combined with
curcumin as malaria prophylaxis.
Curcumin
improves the ability of donepezil to ameliorate memory
impairment in Drosophila melanogaster
Drug
and Chemical Toxicology | September 2022
Curcumin and
donepezil, especially at lower dose of donepezil, significantly
improved the memory index and biochemical parameters compared to
donepezil alone. Thus, curcumin plus donepezil offers unique
therapeutic effects during memory impairment in the D.
melanogaster model of neurotoxicity.
Curcumin-mediated transcriptional regulation of
human N-acetylgalactosamine-α2,6-sialyltransferase which
synthesizes sialyl-Tn antigen in HCT116 human colon cancer cells
Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences | September 2022
Curcumin,
a natural polyphenolic compound, increases gene expressions of
ganglioside-specific human sialyltransferases, hST3Gal V and
hST8Sia I, in human cancer cell lines (Lee at al., 2018 a,
2018b). In this study, we investigated the effect of curcumin on
hST6GalNAc I gene expression in four kinds of human cancer cell
lines (colon cancer cell HCT116, lung cancer cell line A549,
glioblastoma cell line U-87 MG and breast cancer cell MCF-7). As
shown in Figure 1, gene expression of hST6GalNAc I assessed by
RT-PCR after treatment for 24 h with different concentration of
curcumin was increased remarkably in HCT116 cells, which began
to increase at 30 μM curcumin and showed about 14-fold
enhancement at 50 μM curcumin compared to untreated control
cells.
An examination of the protective effects and
molecular mechanisms of curcumin, a polyphenol curcuminoid in
diabetic nephropathy
Biomedicine &
Pharmacotherapy | September 2022
The anti-inflammatory,
antioxidative, anti-apoptotic, and anti-fibrosis properties of
curcumin, a polyphenol curcuminoid, have been demonstrated in
research on diabetic nephropathy. Curcumin may have clinical
protective effects on diabetic nephropathy. Curcumin played
anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-fibrosis effects in
diabetic nephropathy. Curcumin played anti-apoptosis and
promoted autophagy effects in diabetic nephropathy. Curcumin is
the most active ingredient of the curcuminoids and has been
shown to be safe and non-toxic in both pharmacological trials
and in vivo experiments. In addition, numerous studies have
demonstrated that curcumin exhibits positive biological
properties such as anticancer, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic,
antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic effects. Based on the remarkable
efficacy of curcumin, researchers have begun to focus on how it
can be applied to diabetes and its associated chronic
complications. Curcumin has been shown to play an essential role
in regulating hyperglycemia and lipid metabolism, alleviating
insulin resistance], inhibiting AGEs formation and AGEs-mediated
destruction, improving oxidative stress, inflammatory pathways
and apoptosis. Accumulating evidence indicates that curcumin
plays a vital role in the protection of multiple pathologic
mechanisms in diabetes retinopathy, diabetes cardiomyopathy and
diabetic neuropathy. Both clinical trials and preclinical
studies have verified that curcumin is beneficial to the
hypoglycemic process as well as insulin resistance improvement,
and more research on diabetic nephropathy has recently emerged.
A review of the underlying mechanisms of curcumin in diabetic
nephropathy examined its anti-inflammation, antioxidation,
anti-fibrosis, anti-apoptosis, and autophagy-promoting
properties. Notable progress has been made in preclinical
studies; however, clinical trials are still lacking. As a
natural polyphenol curcuminoid, curcumin is safe and effective
as a promising alternative therapeutic agent for the treatment
of diabetic mellitus and diabetic nephropathy.
The aphrodisiac potential of β-cyclodextrin–curcumin
via stimulating cAMP-PKA pathway in testicular Leydig cells
Nature | September 2022
Recent studies have confirmed the
potential pharmacological actions of curcumin in inflammatory
disorders, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and
neurological disorders. Beyond these beneficial properties,
recent studies also revealed that curcumin potentially impacts
the reproductive system. Besides, curcumin was found to have
curative potential on the reproductive system function and its
impairment, regulated by stress and reproductive-related
hormones. Of note, researchers also demonstrated that curcumin
could increase spermatozoon motility in metronidazole-treated
mice.
Combined
Treatment with Curcumin and Ferulic Acid Suppressed the
Aβ-Induced Neurotoxicity More than Curcumin and Ferulic Acid
Alone
International Journal of Molecular
Sciences | September 2022
Curcumin has been studied for its
antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Curcumin is a
fat-soluble polyphenol abundant in turmeric, traditionally used
in Indian medicine. In some in vivo and in vitro studies,
curcumin has been found to have antioxidant and
anti-inflammatory effects, and it is therefore attracting
attention as a preventative action for Alzheimer’s disease by
inhibiting Aβ aggregation including oligomerization in vitro and
in vivo. Furthermore, the administration of curcumin to APPswe/PS1dE9
double transgenic mice has been found to reduce the γ-secretase
component presenilin-2 and promote the degradation of aggregated
Aβ.We find that combination treatment of curcumin and FA exerts
a cytoprotective effect on Aβ-induced cytotoxic effects, through
multiple mechanisms. These mechanisms include the suppression of
Aβ aggregation and antioxidant effects, as compared to single
treatment with either curcumin or FA alone. The protective
effects of the combination treatment we observed were
complementary and cooperative. These findings suggest that the
combination of curcumin and FA may provide an effective and
superior strategy for the prevention and therapeutics of
Alzheimer’s disease in humans.
Specific Irreversible Cell-Cycle Arrest and
Depletion of Cancer Cells Obtained by Combining Curcumin and the
Flavonoids Quercetin and Fisetin
Genes |
September 2022
Curcumin treatment specifically triggers
senescence in cancer cells by inducing mitotic slippage and DNA
damage. We show that curcumin-induced senescence is
p21-dependent and characterized by heterochromatin loss.
Finally, we found that flavonoids clear curcumin-induced
senescent cancer cells. Our findings expand the characterization
of curcumin-induced cellular senescence in cancer cells and lay
the foundation for the combination of curcumin and flavonoids as
a possible anti-cancer therapy.
Curcumin and capsaicin regulate apoptosis and
alleviate intestinal inflammation induced by
Clostridioides difficile in
vitro
Annals of Clinical Microbiology and
Antimicrobials | September 2022
Curcumin is found to possess
a wide array of biological features including anti-oxidant,
anti-tumor and also anti-inflammatory properties. Furthermore,
curcumin and its derivatives, bisdemethoxycurcumin and
demethoxycurcumin have been shown to exert antimicrobial
activities against different bacterial species particularly
multidrug resistant (MDR) strains. Curcumin has
anti-inflammatory and also anti-fibrosis effects by suppressing
the NF-κB and TGF-β1/SMAD-3 signaling pathways, respectively.
Vasanthkumar et al. demonstrated that curcumin and CAP alone or
in combination cause considerable reduction in LPS-induced
overexpression of COX-2, IL-6 and TGF-β. Consistent with
previous studies, findings of the present work revealed that
curcumin could decrease the C. difficile-induced gene
expression level
The Regenerated Capacity of Curcumin in the
Migration of Epidermal Stem Cells Promotes Skin Wound Healing in
a Wistar Rat
International Journal of
Pharmacology | September 2022
Turmeric contains a polyphenol
called curcumin, which is similar to stem cells in that it can
renew identical cells and preserve proliferation and
multipotency. Curcumin’s anti-inflammatory and stemness
properties as well as regenerative benefits, were investigated
in this study. The curcumin decreased granulation tissue
intensity vs. the control group on days 7 and day 14. Curcumin
significantly reduced the mean of angiogenesis vs. the
negative-control group. However, curcumin significantly improves
epidermal thickening vs. the negative-control group (score 1 vs.
2, p<0.05), respectively at days 21 and 28. Curcumin improves
the collagen fibre, on day 21 as fascicle vs. mixed when
compared to the negative-control group. While, on days 21 and 28
the mature collagen was profoundly deposited vs. moderately in
the curcumin vs. control groups. Conclusion: we conclude that
curcumin significantly accelerated the healing course via
modulation in the amount, maturation and arrangement of collagen
fibre. Curcumin had a putative regenerative property upon
upregulation of CD34 as epidermal stem cell marker expression in
epidermis and hair follicles.
Cocktail of isobavachalcone and curcumin enhance
eradication of Staphylococcus aureus biofilm from orthopedic
implants by gentamicin and alleviate inflammatory osteolysis
Microbiology | September 2022
The combination of
isobavachalcone and curcumin can enhance the susceptibility of
MRSA to gentamicin, thus promoting the eradication of MRSA
biofilm. When administrated as cocktail in vivo, they can
significantly modify local inflammation in orthopedic
device-related infection and maintain trabecular bone
microstructure while substantially eradication MRSA in ODRI.
Although our current study did not reveal specific mechanism
about the synergy of this cocktail of gentamicin,
isobavachalcone and curcumin against S. aureus, their bone
microarchitecture maintenance characteristic did provide us the
insight and evidence for future potential topical application by
incorporating the mixture of these two small molecules with
conventional antibiotics, like gentamicin bone cement chain
beads and antimicrobial biomaterials, etc. The combination of
isobavachalcone and curcumin as adjuvants administrated together
with gentamicin to significantly enhance its antimicrobial
effect, which may serve as a new potential treatment strategy
especially for MRSA-induced ODRI, to rationalize the use of
high-level antibiotics and reduce the emergence of
drug-resistant strains of bacteria.
Curcumin and Curcuma longa Extract in the Treatment
of 10 Types of Autoimmune Diseases: A Systematic Review and
Meta-Analysis of 31 Randomized Controlled Trials
Frontiers in Immunology | August 2022
Curcumin and Curcuma
longa Extract had good clinical efficacy in the treatment of
psoriasis, ulcerative colitis and rheumatoid arthritis, so
Curcumin and Curcuma longa Extract could be used in the
treatment of the above diseases in the future. Curcumin is the
most effective ingredient extracted from the rhizomes of ginger
plants such as turmeric. A number of in vitro and in vivo
experiments showed that Curcumin has various pharmacological
effects such as regulating immunity, anti-oxidation, inhibiting
inflammation, anti-tumor, anti-angiogenesis, anti-coagulation,
and scavenging free radicals. These studies suggest that
Curcumin may play a regulatory role by altering the activities
of enzymes, receptors, and related transcription factors.
Numerous randomized controlled trials have shown that curcumin
can alleviate many human diseases, including autoimmune
diseases, with the main mechanisms in regulating immunity and
inhibiting inflammation. Also, Curcumin is administered with few
side effects, making it a potential alternative to NSAIDs and
other drugs with known severe side effects. Curcumin has been
shown to be a potent immunomodulator, which can modulate the
activity of T cells, B cells, macrophages, neutrophils, NK
cells, and dendritic cells. The diverse pharmacological
activities of Curcumin stem from its ability to interact with
different biological targets and signaling pathway.
Current pharmacological studies have shown that Curcumin and
Curcuma longa Extract seems to reverse some clinical symptoms of
many autoimmune diseases by regulating immune inflammatory
biological modules, such as inflammatory factors and immune
inflammatory cell activation, differentiation and immune
function regulation. Curcumin and Curcuma longa Extract is an
effective natural compound with a variety of therapeutic
pharmacological properties and almost no side effects. Recent
studies have shown that curcumin can synergistically enhance the
synergistic effect of glucocorticoids and alleviate
glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. Because of its good
clinical safety, the dose of curcumin in the treatment of
autoimmune diseases is mainly between 80 mg and 6000 mg. The
results of Meta-analysis showed that Curcumin and Curcuma longa
Extract had good clinical efficacy in the treatment of
Psoriasis, UC and RA, so Curcumin and Curcuma longa Extract
could be used in the treatment of the above diseases in the
future.
Protective and anti-oxidative effects of curcumin
and resveratrol on Aβ-oligomer-induced damage
Journal of the Neurological Sciences | August 2022
Results
suggest that curcumin and resveratrol decreased ROS generation,
attenuated oxidative stress, inhibited tau hyperphosphorylation,
and protected SH-SY5Y cells from AβO damage. Both curcumin and
resveratrol are promising supplements or medicine as therapeutic
agents for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
Curcumin Suppresses the Progression of Colorectal
Cancer by Improving Immunogenic Cell Death Caused by Irinotecan
Chemotherapy
Anticancer Section | August 2022
Curcumin, an adjuvant drug
with anti-inflammatory and antitumor effects, has been studied
extensively, although its synergistic antitumor effect remains
unclear. Results: Irinotecan in combination with curcumin had
synergistic antitumor effects in CT-26 colon carcinoma cells.
Combination treatment with Irinotecan and curcumin was more
effective than Irinotecan or curcumin alone. Irinotecan and
curcumin combination treatment significantly upregulated
ICD-related proteins including CALR and HMGB1 and had a greater
antitumor effect than Irinotecan or curcumin single treatment in
vivo. Curcumin may synergistically improve the antitumor effect
of Irinotecan by promoting the ICD effect. Conclusion:
Combination therapy with Irinotecan and curcumin may be an
option for first-line chemotherapy in some patients with
advanced colorectal cancer.
Effects
and Mechanisms of Curcumin for the Prevention and Management of
Cancers: An Updated Review
Antioxidants |
August 2022
Curcumin possesses various biological activities,
such as antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antioxidant and
anticancer effects. Curcumin has shown anticancer effects on
various cancers, such as breast, liver, lung, gastric and
prostate cancers. For example, curcumin inhibited breast cancer
cells proliferation and induced apoptosis by increasing reactive
oxygen species (ROS) production. Curcumin also inhibited liver
cancer. Curcumin has been selected as a third‐generation cancer
chemopreventive agent by the National Cancer Institute. The
anticancer effects of curcumin have been extensively studied in
different cancers, such as breast, lung, colorectal, head and
neck, gastric, bladder, prostate, thyroid, liver, ovarian, oral,
pancreatic, cervical, tongue and brain cancers. Many studies
have reported the effectiveness of curcumin in the prevention
and management of various cancers, such as thyroid, breast,
gastric, colorectal, liver, pancreatic, prostate and lung
cancers. The potential mechanisms include inhibiting cancer cell
proliferation, suppressing invasion and migration, promoting
cell apoptosis, inducing autophagy, decreasing cancer stemness,
increasing reactive oxygen species production, reducing
inflammation, triggering ferroptosis, regulating gut microbiota,
and adjuvant therapy.
Curcumin activates autophagy and attenuates high
glucose‑induced apoptosis
Experimental and
Therapeutic Medicine | August 2022
Curcumin is well known for
its anti‑inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Accumulating
evidence suggests that curcumin can act as an agent with
anti‑inflammatory, antioxidant, anticarcinogenic and
antilipidemic effects. Curcumin can improve gastric emptying in
rats by blocking the production of oxidative stress. In
addition, curcumin also induces autophagy to protect the
vascular endothelial cells and reduces the cell apoptosis from
the oxidative stress damage, suggesting a potential mechanism
underlying the anti‑apoptosis effects of curcumin. Overall,
previous studies have confirmed that curcumin has a strong
antioxidant and antiapoptosis effect. Curcumin alleviated
apoptosis by promoting autophagy and inhibiting the ROS/NF‑κB
signaling pathway.
Identifying the Antitumor Effects of Curcumin on
Lung Adenocarcinoma Using Comprehensive Bioinformatics Analysis
Drug Design, Development and Therapy | July 2022
The results
of this study suggest that the therapeutic effects of curcumin
on Lung Adenocarcinoma may be achieved through the intervention
of INS and GCG, which may act as potential biomarkers for Lung
Adenocarcinoma prevention and treatment. Curcuma longa L.,
also known as turmeric, has been widely used as a traditional
medicine in China, India, and Southeast Asia. As the main
component of turmeric, curcumin was first used to treat
cholecystitis in 1937. Curcumin mediates its anticancer activity
by modulating molecular targets including transcription factors,
micro-RNAs, cytokines, and interfering with genes related to
apoptosis and proliferation—thus inhibiting tumor cell
proliferation and migration, inhibiting angiogenesis, inducing
apoptosis, and increasing sensitivity to antitumor therapy. Due
to its excellent pharmacological activity, curcumin is widely
used in the treatment of many diseases, including
gastrointestinal disease, liver cirrhosis, cardiovascular
disease, diabetes, and cancer. Increasing studies suggest that
curcumin inhibits the growth of lung cancer cells through
multiple pathways by inducing apoptosis, inhibiting cell
proliferation, and epigenetic changes. These studies have
indicated that curcumin has great potential in the treatment of
various diseases. We found that curcumin significantly inhibited
the proliferation, migration and invasion of Lung Adenocarcinoma
A549 and NCI-H1299 cells and significantly decreased the
expression of INS and GCG genes.
Curcumin
reduces blood-nerve barrier abnormalities and cytotoxicity to
endothelial cells
Folia Morphologica | July
2022
Curcumin, a polyphenol found in the root of Curcuma
longa, had favorable effects on cisplatin neuropathy in
previous work. Curcumin alleviated pericyte detachment,
cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, TEER reduction and tight
junction protein expression. Curcumin might improve neuropathy
via the restoration of BNB. Whether alterations in the BNB occur
and curcumin is effective in patients with cisplatin neuropathy
remain to be investigated.
The protective effect of curcumin on testicular
tissue in a cryptorchid rat model
Journal of Pediatric Urology | July 2022
Curcumin administration ameliorated the histological appearance
of the testis and greatly reduced the level of apoptosis in
cryptorchidism rats' testicular cells. After curcumin treatment,
the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was
restored in the testis tissues of cryptorchidism rats. Curcumin
therapy reduced Bax expression while increasing Bcl-2
expression, according to the molecular study. Curcumin therapy
also reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and enhanced
superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in cryptorchidism rats' testis
tissue.
Exploring the Mechanism of Curcumin on
Retinoblastoma Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular
Docking
Evidence-Based Complementary and
Alternative Medicine | July 2022
Curcumin shows great effects
of inhibiting tumor cell proliferation, inducing apoptosis,
inhibiting tumor metastasis, and inhibiting angiogenesis on a
variety of tumors. Curcumin is a yellow phenolic pigment with
low toxicity, wide medicinal source and low price extracted from
the rhizome of Curcuma longa of the ginger family, such as
turmeric, which has a wide application prospect and value in
clinical treatment. We initially revealed that curcumin exerts
its therapeutic effects on retinoblastoma with multitarget,
multipathway, and multibiological functions, providing a
theoretical basis for subsequent studies. In conclusion, this
comprehensive network-based pharmacological analysis suggests a
number of testable speculations on the potential molecular
mechanisms of curcumin in the treatment of retinoblastoma and
predicts RB1, STAT3, and CDKN2A as potential therapeutic
targets.
Curcumin, thymoquinone, and 3, 3′-diindolylmethane
combinations attenuate lung and liver cancers progression
Frontiers in Pharmacology Sec. Ethnopharmacology | July 2022
Results showed that triple (Curcumin + TQ + DIM) and
double (Curcumin + TQ, curcumin + DIM, and TQ + DIM) combinations of
Curcumin, TQ, and DIM significantly increased apoptosis with
elevation of caspase-3 protein levels. Also, these combinations
exhibited significantly decreased cell proliferation, migration,
colony formation activities, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase
(PI3K), and protein kinase B (AKT) protein levels with S phase
reduction. Triple and double combinations of Curcumin, TQ, and
DIM hindered tumor weight and angiogenesis of A549 and HepG2
implants in the chorioallantoic membrane model. Interestingly,
Curcumin, TQ, and DIM combinations are considered promising for
suppressing cancer progression via inhibiting tumor
angiogenesis. Curcumin, the active ingredient of Curcuma
longa L is the most studied compound described as a
potential anticancer agent due to its multi-targeted
signaling/molecular pathways (Sharma and Martins, 2020; Shah et
al., 2021). Generally, Curcumin has the highest binding
affinities with target proteins, followed by DIM and then TQ.
Furthermore, because Curcumin, TQ, and DIM have different and
common targets, we suggest treating different cancer cells. In
the same context, we encourage researchers to investigate
Curcumin, TQ, and DIM combination with chemotherapeutic agents
investigating the effect of natural products combined with
commonly used chemotherapeutics for cancer therapy.
Curcumin Alleviates D-Galactose-Induced
Cardiomyocyte Senescence
Natural Products and Herbal Medicine: Safety,
Efficacy, and Bioactivity | July 2022
Curcumin could be an
effective anticardiac aging drug. The polyphenolic compound
curcumin is derived from turmeric and possesses therapeutic and
biological properties against many human health issues.
Experiments in vitro and in vivo suggest that curcumin could
prevent cardiovascular diseases, alleviate cardiovascular aging,
and induce autophagy via various signaling pathways, including
SIRT, AMPK, and mTOR. Curcumin has antioxidant,
autophagy-promoting, and antiaging properties. The polyphenol
compound, curcumin, extracted from turmeric, has various
therapeutic uses in humans. It induces antioxidant,
anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antiaging effects. Curcumin
protects against cardiovascular diseases, such as cardiac
hypertrophy, heart failure, and atherosclerosis. The role of
curcumin in regulating apoptosis and autophagy is well-studied,
including its role in reversing the aging process and reducing
oxidative stress. Curcumin ameliorates aging by promoting
autophagy and reducing oxidative stress during oxidative
stress-induced cardiac aging. These protective effects of
curcumin in cardiac aging is consistent with the interaction
between autophagy and oxidative stress. In addition, curcumin
could be used as a potential pharmacological candidate for
treating cardiac aging. Curcumin alleviated cardiac aging by
promoting autophagy and reducing oxidative stress in vivo. The
experimental results also revealed that curcumin acted as a
cardioprotective agent.
The Effect of Curcumin on Lipid Profile and Glycemic
Status of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic
Review and Meta-Analysis
Evidence-Based
Complementary and Alternative Medicine | July 2022
Curcumin
supplementation had beneficial effects on glycemic status and
some lipid parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
(T2DM). Curcumin has a wide range of pharmacological
effects, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory,
antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and antitumor properties.
Experimental and clinical studies also have reported the
beneficial effects of curcumin supplementation on lipid profile
and glycemic status. In conclusion, this meta-analysis
provided evidence that curcumin has promising effects on the
lipid profile and glycemic status in patients with T2DM. It
indicated that curcumin might be a favorable therapeutic option
for T2DM patients with mixed dyslipidemia.
Curcumin
attenuates development of depressive-like behavior in male rats
after spinal cord injury: involvement of NLRP3 inflammasome
Journal of Contemporary Medical Sciences | July
2022
Curcumin appears to constitute a suitable agent to
reduce neuroinflammation and through it, relieve a
depressive-like state. Curcumin is a multifunctional drug
and it has a lot of pharmacologic effects, like
anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-infectious activities.
Studies have reported that curcumin improves neurological
defects by inhibiting apoptosis and neuronal cell death and
reducing inflammation. Considering the role of curcumin in
reducing inflammation after spinal-cord injury and the role of
NLRP3 inflammasome in starting of inflammation and also the role
of the inflammatory process in depression after spinal-cord
injury, the purpose of this study is investigating curcumin role
in mood alterations in male rats after spinal-cord injury
through focusing on the involvement of NLRP3 inflammasome. Our
results suggested that administration of curcumin
decreased neuroinflammation. Based on the findings of the
behavioral tests in the present study, because of safety and
high ability to enhance the parameters related to depression,
curcumin can be considered as a treatment for depression.
The
Role of Curcumin in Prostate Cancer Cells and Derived Spheroids
Cancers | July 2022
Curcumin can
suppress the proliferation of both androgen-dependent and
androgen-independent PC cell lines. Consequently, curcumin
administration seems to be useful in PC prevention, and in
co-treatment with conventional therapy to halt PC progression
towards mCRPC. Despite its widely reported health benefits, the
use of curcumin is hampered by its poor bioavailability which
limits its clinical application. In this regard, several
strategies were developed to overcome these limitations,
including improving the delivery system by encapsulating
curcumin in the form of nanoparticles, designing novel
structural analogs, and liposomal encapsulation and emulsions.
Our study provides evidence that curcumin supplementation can be
used as a preventative strategy and opens up new frontiers for
further studies aimed at implementing the diet with
nutraceuticals. In conclusion, despite different studies being
carried out to identify the potential synergistic curcumin
combinations with chemopreventive/therapeutic ef ficacy for
inhibiting PC growth, to our knowledge, this study is the first
to show the ability of curcumin used alone or in combinatorial
approaches to impair the size and the viability of PC-derived
spheroids.
Therapeutic Potential of Curcumin and its
Derivatives on Brain Tumor Glioma Biology
Neurochemical Research | July 2022
Curcumin is a natural
polyphenolic compound with several anti-tumor effects which
potentially inhibit tumor growth, development, proliferation,
invasion, dissemination, and angiogenesis in different human
malignancies. Experimental model studies have demonstrated that
curcumin attenuates glioma cell viability by G2/M cell cycle
arrest, apoptosis, induction of autophagy, gene expression
alteration, and disruption of multi-molecular pathways.
Moreover, curcumin has been reported to re-sensitize cancer to
chemotherapeutics as well as augment the effect of radiotherapy
on glioma cells. In this review, we have provided an update on
the in vitro and in vivo effects of curcumin-based therapy on
gliomas. We have also discussed the use of curcumin in
combination therapies, its effectiveness on drug-resistant
cells, and new formulations of curcumin in the treatment of
gliomas.
The Effect of Curcumin on Lipid Profile and Glycemic
Status of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic
Review and Meta-Analysis
Evidence-Based
Complementary and Alternative Medicine | July 2002
Curcuma
longa L. is a traditional medicinal plant, which is widely
distributed in China and some Asian countries. Turmeric, the
rhizome of Curcuma longa L, is used as a spice to
improve taste and also as medicine because of its therapeutic
properties. Curcuminoids, the main bioactive agents extracted
from the rhizome of Curcuma longa L, is responsible for
the major biological effects of turmeric. As the main present
form of curcuminoids, curcumin has a wide range of
pharmacological effects, including antioxidant,
anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and
antitumor properties. Experimental and clinical studies also
have reported the beneficial effects of curcumin supplementation
on lipid profile and glycemic status. The results of this study
showed that curcumin supplementation had beneficial effects on
glycemic status and some lipid parameters in patients with Type
2 diabetes mellitus. In conclusion, this meta-analysis provided
evidence that curcumin has promising effects on the lipid
profile and glycemic status in patients with Type 2 diabetes
mellitus. It indicated that curcumin might be a favorable
therapeutic option for Type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with
mixed dyslipidemia.
The
Effect of Curcumin on Renal Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in
Diabetic Rats
Nutrients | July 2022
Curcumin has shown to be effective in the regulation of glycemia
and lipidemia with an action mechanism similar to antidiabetic
medications. In addition, recent studies have demonstrated
promising effects of curcumin for the treatment of autoimmune
diseases, such as type 1 diabetes. It has been also demonstrated
that it could have a potential role in preventing and treating
several diseases due to its antibacterial, antiviral,
anti-ischemic, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, antirheumatic
and anticancer activities. his study proved the effectiveness of
curcumin as a renoprotective agent in DM with I/R, becoming a
promising agent for the suppression of the morbidity of DM. In
addition, the study suggests that, after other preclinical
studies with different formulations and administration routes
designed to obtain products with higher bioavailability, with a
larger sample and other methodologies for evaluating renal
function and also clinical studies, curcumin can be considered a
therapeutic possibility to be incorporated into the clinical
treatment of diabetic patients at risk for complications of
renal function. Early treatment with curcumin improved renal
function in diabetic rats submitted to I/R with beneficial
repercussions on renal hemodynamics and renal oxidative profile.
Curcumin as a Promising Neuroprotective Agent for
the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injury: A Review of the Literature
Neurospine | July 2022
Curcumin is a promising therapeutic
drug for spinal cord injuries (SCIs)treatment because it
reduces the incidence of secondary injuries. Curcumin has
antioxidant and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory pharmacological
properties. Preclinical and clinical trials have revealed its
various pharmacological activities, including its
anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anticancer, and
neuroprotective effects on neurodegenerative disorders. Curcumin
also has hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, cardioprotective,
neuroprotective, hypoglycemic, and antirheumatic activities, and
its neuroprotective activity against several neurodegenerative
disorders is gaining researchers’ attention. As an
anti-inflammatory agent, curcumin suppresses the production of
many proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis
factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1, IL-8, and monocyte
chemoattractant protein 1 [8,9]. In a recent study, curcumin
inhibited the hypoxia-induced upregulation of glial fibrillary
acidic protein (GFAP) and neurofilament-H following hypoxia and
downregulated the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, such
as TNF-α and IL-1. It also suppresses glial scar formation and
GFAP expression, contributing toward the development of a more
favorable environment for neurological recovery. Curcumin is a
neuroprotective polyphenolic compound that has benefits such as
pluripotency, oral safety, long usage history, and low cost.
Several animal experiments have shown that curcumin can minimize
secondary injury following primary SCIs through its
anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and stem cell mobilization
properties. Curcumin is an influential therapeutic agent that
can potentially treat catastrophic secondary injuries in the
spinal cord, including inflammation, edema, free radical injury,
fibrosis, and glial scar formation. It can enhance neurological
function in rats, as measured using the BBB locomotor rating
scale.
Antioxidant Potential of Phytoconstituents with Special
Emphasis on Curcumin
Antimicrobial and
Pharmacological Aspects of Curcumin | July 2022
The medicinal
properties of turmeric, the source of curcumin, have been known
for thousands of years; however, the ability to determine the
exact mechanism(s) of action and to determine the bioactive
components have only recently been investigated. Curcumin
(1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione),
also called diferuloylmethane, is the main natural polyphenol
found in the rhizome of Curcuma longa (turmeric).
Curcumin, a polyphenol, has been shown to target multiple
signaling molecules while also demonstrating activity at the
cellular level, which has helped to support its multiple health
benefits such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic,
antimicrobial and anticancer properties.
Curcumin improves D-galactose and normal-aging
associated memory impairment in mice: In vivo and in
silico-based studies
Plos One | July 2022
Curcumin, a natural flavonoid, has potent antioxidant and
anti-aging properties. Curcumin significantly increased
retention time (p < 0.05) and freezing response (p < 0.05) in PA
and CFC, respectively. Curcumin profoundly ameliorated the
levels of glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, advanced
oxidation protein products, nitric oxide, and lipid peroxidation
in mice hippocampi. In silico studies revealed favorable binding
energies of curcumin with GSTA1, GSTO1, KEAP1, BACE1, and MAOA.
Curcumin improves retention and freezing memory in D-gal and
nature-induced aging mice. Curcumin ameliorates the levels of
oxidative stress biomarkers in mice. Anti-aging effects of
curcumin could be attributed to, at least partially, the
upregulation of antioxidant enzymes through binding with GSTA1,
GSTO1, KEAP1, and inhibition of oxidative damage through binding
with BACE1 and MAOA. We investigated the detailed effects of
curcumin on oxidative stress in the D-gal and nature-induced
aging mice model. Our in vivo study suggested that curcumin
improves memory and rescues learning impairment by modulating
oxidative stress levels. Furthermore, our in-silico study
demonstrated that curcumin has good binding affinities for
several molecular targets implicated in redox homeostasis.
Finally, based on our in vivo and computational studies, it can
be stated that curcumin improves aging-associated memory
impairment by reducing oxidative overload in mice.
Effects of curcumin on low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
oxidation from experimental studies to clinical practice
Excli journal | July 2022
Curcumin is a potent antioxidant
and has a strong track record in the treatment of numerous
diseases. Recent studies indicate that Curcumin exerts a
lipid-lowering effect, and can modulate the formation of
atherosclerotic plaque. Curcumin has a long history in the
treatment of diseases, such as gastric and hepatic disorders,
dental problems, menstrual difficulties, infectious diseases,
malignancies, immune-related and metabolic disorders (Sahebkar
and Henrotin, 2016; Panahi et al., 2017; Bagherniya et al.,
2018; Parsamanesh et al., 2018; Gorabi et al., 2019; Mortezaee
et al., 2019; Shakeri et al., 2019; Zahedipour et al., 2020;
Afshari et al., 2021; Fu et al., 2021; Mohammed et al., 2021).
Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of Curcumin, a
polyphenol, have been reported in numerous studies (Menon and
Sudheer 2007; Shehzad et al., 2011; Momtazi-Borojeni et al.,
2018; Farhood et al., 2019). Curcumin can improve the lipid
profile of patients by reducing serum triglyceride (TG), LDL and
total cholesterol levels significantly in subjects with coronary
artery disease. Curcumin decreases the aortic lipid lesions and
inhibits development of atherosclerotic plaques (Wongcharoen and
Phrommintikul 2009). Curcumin demonstrates antioxidant activity
because the benzene rings in the structure of the Curcumin
molecule eliminate reactive oxygen species (ROS) (Joe and Lokesh,
1994). According to cardiac-related studies, serum levels of
lipid peroxides are higher in patients with IHD; Curcumin is
able to reduce lipid peroxide concentration (Stringer et al.,
1989; Soni and Kuttan 1992). These actions could indicate that
curcumin also inhibits ox-LDL elevation. Overall, our results
suggest that curcumin could be effective in reducing LDL
oxidation.
Curcumin inhibits the replication of rotavirus in
vitro
Acta Virologica | July 2022
The
present study aims to determine the effect of curcumin, a
natural polyphenol compound, on rotavirus in a cell culture
model. The anti-viral activity of curcumin was evaluated by
reverse-transcriptase quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), TCID50, and
western blot techniques to assess CC50 in curcumin-treated MA104
cells as well as EC50 and SI within the infected MA104 cell
line. Our findings supported that curcumin exerted an inhibitory
influence against rotavirus in a dose-dependent manner and
decreased the viral titer and VP6 expression by ~99% at a
concentration of 30 μM.
How
Curcumin Targets Inflammatory Mediators in Diabetes: Therapeutic
Insights and Possible Solutions
Molecules
| July 2022
Curcumin, a polyphenol derived from turmeric, is
well known for its anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and
anti-apoptotic properties. Curcumin’s anti-inflammatory and
anti-oxidative activities against a wide range of molecular
targets have been shown to have therapeutic potential for a
variety of chronic inflammatory disorders, including diabetes.
Curcumin’s biological examination has shown that it is a
powerful anti-oxidant that stops cells from growing by releasing
active free thiol groups at the target location. Curcumin is a
powerful anti-inflammatory agent that targets inflammatory
mediators in diabetes, and its resistant form leads to better
therapeutic outcomes in diabetes complications. Moreover,
Curcumin is an anti-oxidant and NF-B inhibitor that may be
useful in treating diabetes. Curcumin has been shown to inhibit
diabetes-related enzymes, such as a-glucosidase, aldose
reductase and aldose reductase inhibitors. Through its
anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, and its suppression
of vascular endothelial development and nuclear transcription
factors, curcumin has the ability to prevent, or reduce, the
course of diabetic retinopathy. Curcumin improves insulin
sensitivity by suppressing phosphorylation of ERK/JNK in
HG-induced insulin-resistant cells and strengthening the
PI3K-AKT-GSK3B signaling pathway. Curcumin is an anti-oxidant
and NF-κB inhibitor that may be useful in preventing and
treating diabetes. Curcumin has been shown to inhibit
diabetes-related enzymes, such as a-glucosidase, aldose
reductase, and aldose reductase inhibitors . Curcumin has been
shown to have therapeutic potential in the prevention, or
delaying, of diabetic retinopathy, by acting as an anti-oxidant
and an anti-inflammatory, and inhibiting vascular endothelial
development and nuclear transcription factors. Curcumin’s
current applications for glycemia and diabetes-related liver
illnesses, neuropathy, adipocyte dysfunction, vascular diseases,
nephropathy, and pancreatic disorders were described in.
Curcumin has shown efficient anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic
and anti-oxidant potential. In patients with metabolic syndrome,
short-term treatment with a curcuminoid-piperine combination
reduced inflammatory status dramatically. Curcuminoids are
effective, safe and natural CRP-lowering compounds. In addition,
curcumin reduces levels of inflammatory mediators and factors,
such as TNF-α, INF-γ, reduces systemic inflammatory biomarkers.
such as RANTES. and other cytokine levels. Curcumin also reduces
the levels of inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6 and IL-1β,
and targets inflammatory mediators in insulin diabetes
resistance. Curcumin restores dysfunction associated with Nrf2
that helps in diabetes resistance management. Similarly,
curcumin inhibits inflammatory signaling and the expression of
Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1), resulting in
activation of the Nrf2 system. Curcumin metabolites have shown
significant results in diabetes mellitus treatment focusing on
inflammatory mediators.
Curcumin Increased the Sensitivity of Non-Small-Cell
Lung Cancer to Cisplatin through the Endoplasmic Reticulum
Stress Pathway
Evidence-Based Complementary
and Alternative Medicine | July 2022
Curcuma longa was reported to
possess antitumor activity through regulating oncogene
expression, cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, tumorigenesis, and
metastasis. Recently, curcumin was found to promote
chemotherapeutic efficiency in various cancers and diseases. For
instance, Zou et al. reported that curcumin increases breast
cancer cell sensitivity to cisplatin by decreasing FEN1
expression. Lu et al. found that curcumin can increase the
sensitivity of paclitaxel-resistant non-small-cell lung cancer
cells to paclitaxel through microRNA-30c-mediated MTA1
reduction. Recently, curcumin was found to increase effects of
irinotecan through mediating the ER stress pathway in colorectal
cancer cells. Misra et al. found that curcumin regulates ER
stress through cAMP responsive element-binding protein H.
Curcumin can enhance the chemosensitizing effect of
non-small-cell lung cancer cells by targeting the ER stress
pathway. Taken together, this study demonstrated curcumin can
increase DDP sensitivity of non-small-cell lung cancer cells
through mediating the ER stress pathway. The results of this
study proposed a possible mechanism of curcumin improving DDP
sensitivity in non-small-cell lung cancer cells and may shed a
little light on developing the molecular targets in the ER
stress pathway to overcome the DDP resistance in non-small-cell
lung cancer.
Curcumin and metformin synergistically modulate
peripheral and central immune mechanisms of pain
Scientific Reports | June 2022
Curcumin is a
natural polyphenol and has beneficial therapeutic effects on
pain. Curcumin has been used as an analgesic adjuvant with
several analgesic drugs, allowing synergistic antinociceptive
effects. Coadministration of curcumin and metformin at a 1:1
fixed ratio of their ED50 doses significantly reduced the dose
required to produce a 50% effect compared to the theoretically
required dose in phase II of the formalin test with a
combination index value of 0.24. Our findings suggest that
curcumin exerts synergistic anti-inflammation with metformin
with no potential CNS adverse effects. Curcumin has been used as
a traditional herbal remedy for centuries throughout Asia due to
its pleiotropic activities, including anti-inflammatory,
antioxidant, and anticancer. It is a well‐tolerated natural
product causing no or minimal toxicity in short- and long-term
use. Consequently, it was declared “generally recognized as
safe” by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)21. Moreover,
the therapeutic effectiveness of curcumin in nociceptive,
inflammatory, and neuropathic pain has been reported in numerous
animal models and humans. Dual treatment with curcumin and
metformin has been reported in diabetic mellitus,
diabetes-induced comorbidities, nephrotoxicity, hepatocellular
carcinoma, pancreatic cancer cells, and breast cancer, with the
results suggesting synergistic effects. Moreover, metformin and
curcumin have different mechanisms of action in pain modulation,
which indicates the potential for exerting greater analgesia
when administered together. In summary, this study
suggests for the first time that curcumin combined with
metformin exerts synergistic anti-inflammatory effects in both
in vitro and in vivo conditions. Curcumin synergistically
augmented the inhibition of nitric oxide and proinflammatory
cytokines by metformin both in RAW 264.7 macrophage and BV-2
microglial cells. Moreover, the combined therapy using
curcumin and metformin showed no considerable CNS adverse
effects in naďve mice. Hence, this study supports the
possibility of combined use of curcumin and metformin in the
treatment of pain with the least amount of medication while
taking the easiness of administration, cost of the therapy, and
side effect profile of medicines into the account.
Combined
Curcumin and Luteolin Synergistically Inhibit Colon Cancer
Associated with Notch1 and TGF-β Signaling Pathways in Cultured
Cells and Xenograft Mice
Cancers | June 2022
A combination of luteolin
(30 µM) and curcumin (15 µM) was selected as the optimum
combination for the study due to a low combination index of 0.25
and its highest synergistic inhibitory effect on the growth of
two human colon cancer cell lines CL-188 and DLD-1. Consistent
with in vitro results, intraperitoneal injection of luteolin at
10 mg/kg body weight and curcumin at 20 mg/kg body weight in
BALB/C Foxn nude mice for a 2-week period synergistically
inhibited CL-188 cell-derived tumor growth. Further analysis
showed that the synergistic anti-colon cancer effect exhibited
by curcumin and luteolin was mediated through the downregulation
of the effector protein Notch1, to induce growth cycle arrest,
promote apoptosis, and TGF-β signaling inhibits angiogenesis and
invasion in vitro and in vivo. These data demonstrate that a
combination of curcumin and luteolin exerts an anti-colon cancer
effect through the modulation of Notch1 and TGF-β signaling
pathways, well-known in cancer growth, invasion, and metastasis.
Antioxidant Potential of Phytoconstituents with Special
Emphasis on Curcumin
Antimicrobial and
Pharmacological Aspects of Curcumin | June 2022
Curcumin, a
polyphenol, has been shown to target multiple signaling
molecules while also demonstrating activity at the cellular
level, which has helped to support its multiple health benefits
such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic,
antimicrobial and anticancer properties. Curcumin has received
worldwide attention for its multiple health benefits, which
appear to act primarily through its anti-oxidant and
anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Many major diseases such as liver
problem, myocardial infarction, diabetes, cancer are believed to
be associated with lipid peroxidation and thus causing major
cell damage. Curcuminoids and other polyphenols in turmeric can
ameliorate and prevent lipid peroxidation, can stabilize the
cell membrane, hence proving its significant role in prevention
of atherosclerosis. Inhibitory action of curcumin
on lipid accumulation, oxidation, nitric oxide as well as the
formation of inflammatory molecules, nuclear factor-kappa B-
(NF-kB-) dependent gene expression, and its activation can thus
influence therapeutic potential of turmeric in the treatment of
pancreatic, hepatic, cancer and intestinal diseases. Curcumin
can produce promisable symptomatic relief on external cancerous
lesions in human. Along with this, curcumin has resulted to be
effective in preventing and treatment of many of the
neurodegenerative disorders as a free radical scavenger
including Alzheimer’s disease. Also after giving short-term
supplementation it has proved to reduce hematuria, proteinuria,
including systolic blood pressure in patients with relapsed or
refractory lupus nephritis. By referring all the literature,
Curcumin can be considered as a safe adjuvant therapy. The
previous studies had indicated that the high antioxidant
properties of turmeric was found to inhibit cellular lipid
peroxidation and can also ameliorate other oxidative damage
caused by free radicals. Thus Turmeric is proven to be an
important source of high contents of flavonoids, polyphenols,
tannins and ascorbic acid. Curcumin as important
phytoconstituent of turmeric varieties is and effective and
important antioxidant compound and which can be effective in
management of various diseased conditions.
Efficacy of Curcumin on Treating Cancer
Anorexia-Cachexia Syndrome in Locally or Advanced Head and Neck
Cancer: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Randomised Phase IIa
Trial
Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism |
June 2022
Curcuminoids are the extracts from curcumin, which
both in vitro and in vivo studies have shown the inhibitory
effect of NF-kB through intracellular phosphorylation. Siddiqui
et al. demonstrated that 100 mg/kg of curcumin prevented weight
loss in MAC16 colon tumour mice. Moreover, the increasing dose
of curcuminoid (up to 250 mg/kg) showed a 25% increase in body
weight in mice. Additionally, Gil da Costa et al. discovered
preventing myolysis in HPV-16-infected mice from curcuminoids by
the mechanism of downregulation of NF-kB synthesis resulted in
increased muscle mass or delayed muscle wasting compared with
controlled mice. For curcumin in clinical studies, Gupta et al.
showed that patients with solid cancer receiving chemotherapy
and curcumin for eight weeks showed a
significant improvement in their quality of life and a declined
NF-kB level compared with the controlled arm. Recently, our
previous study showed that 800 mg/day of curcumin delayed the
progression of handgrip muscle strength loss and basal metabolic
rate significantly among patients with solid cancer, as well as
there were no serious adverse events. Our study results showed
significantly improved skeletal muscle mass with the use of
curcumin compared with matching placebo, in which the difference
in the percent change in muscle mass between the groups was
significant. Moreover, body fat mass among patients treated with
curcumin showed a slower decline than patients treated with
matching placebo, even though no statistically significant
difference was noted between the two groups, but the trend seems
to favour curcumin. Our study showed that patients treated with
curcumin improved handgrip strength at week 8, but loss of
handgrip strength was observed in the matching placebo group.
Furthermore, in vivo studies demonstrated curcumin's crucial
significant immunomodulatory effect by stimulating PBMC
proliferation and cytokine production. Our study results
supported the related in vivo study that curcumin administration
for eight weeks resulted in less lymphocyte suppression compared
with the matching placebo group. The potential role of curcumin
regarding the immunomodulatory effect should be further
investigated among patients with cancer during treatment with
chemotherapy or immunosuppressive agents. For safety endpoint,
phase I studies suggested that curcumin at a dose up to 8,000 mg
once daily orally can be safely administered without
dose-limiting toxicity. Our study results demonstrated that
curcumin was well tolerated at a dose of 4,000 mg/day and showed
only mild grade of adverse events. No serious adverse events
were reported.
Review of the Effects and Mechanism of Curcumin in
the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Frontiers in Pharmacology | June 2022
Curcumin has been used
as a traditional herbal medicine in India and Southeast Asia for
thousands of years. It is often used to treat biliary tract
diseases, anorexia, rhinitis, cough, rheumatism, and various
chronic inflammatory diseases. Due to its extensive biological
activities, it has received widespread attention from
researchers in recent years. Current researching indicates that
curcumin has high medical value, including anti-inflammatory,
antioxidant, anti-tumor, anti-apoptotic, anti-fibrosis, immune
regulation and other effects, and can be used to treat a variety
of diseases (Salehi et al., 2019). It is involved in many
significant genetic and biochemical pathways (Karthikeyan et
al., 2020; Moniruzzaman and Min, 2020; Beyene et al., 2021).
Curcumin is associated with many cellular targets (i.e., NF-κB,
JAKs/STATs, MAPKs, TNF-γ, IL-6, PPARγ, and TRPV1) that
effectively reduce the progression of IBD. The research of
curcumin and related formulations for IBD treatment has surged
over the decade (Kahkhaie et al., 2019; Sharma et al., 2019;
Patel et al., 2020). So far, a large number of basic and
clinical studies have shown that curcumin has the effect of
treating IBD and also can maintain the remission of IBD (Yang H.
et al., 2017). In this review, the researches of IBD genetics
and pathogenesis and curcumin molecular targets in IBD in recent
years are summarized in order to provide reference for further
research and application of curcumin. Current researching
indicates that curcumin has high medical value, including
anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-tumor, anti-apoptotic,
anti-fibrosis, immune regulation and other effects, and can be
used to treat a variety of diseases. A large number of basic and
clinical studies have shown that curcumin has the effect of
treating IBD and also can maintain the remission of IBD. In this
review, the research of curcumin on IBD in recent years is
summarized in order to provide reference for further research
and application of curcumin. At present, many researches have
proved that curcumin is safe and effective through DBPC test (Heger,
2017). Curcumin may not fit medical chemists’ definition of the
perfect drug, but many in vitro, in vivo and clinical trials
have irrefutably confirmed its medicinal potential (Li et al.,
2015; Beloqui et al., 2016; Yang et al., 2018; Yue et al., 2019;
Wei et al., 2021). We searched ClinicalTrials.gov to identify
current clinical trials evaluating curcumin treatment for IBD. A
total of 10 trials were included. Three of them have been
completed and five are in phase 3. Curcumin has less adverse
reactions and high safety during use. As a potential
chemotherapeutic drug, it shows a good application prospect in
both basic experimental researches and clinical trials of IBD
over the decades (Shapira et al., 2018; Sadeghi et al., 2020;
Sugimoto et al., 2020; Banerjee et al., 2021).
A
study on the effects of inhibition mechanism of curcumin,
quercetin, and resveratrol
Journal of
Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics | June 2022
Curcumin is
the much better inhibitor than quercetin and resveratrol for hGR
according to both in vitro and in silico studies. Curcumin, a
potential inhibitor of hGR, can be used in drug design to target
the glutathione system in cellular injury.
Curcumin as adjuvant treatment in patients with
non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD) disease: A systematic review
and meta-analysis
Complementary Therapies
in Medicine | June 2022
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) has active
constituents in its rhizome called curcuminoids, with the most
prominent curcuminoid called curcumin. Curcumin is acknowledged
as a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. Curcumin
is given through an oral capsule and taken daily. Two
trials’ participants received 500 mg curcumin and 5 mg
piperine/day as intervention. A review reported that the
consumption of curcumin significantly reduced liver enzymes,
decreased low-density lipoprotein and total cholesterol among
non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients. Another
review found curcumin showed significant effects on fasting
blood sugar, insulin level, and homeostasis model of assessment
insulin resistance8 among women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
Curcumin is anticipated to function as antiviral drugs to treat
the current COVID-19 virus based on in vitro and in vivo studies
as it showed high inhibitory activity towards the virus.
Computer simulation and molecular docking showed the good
ability of this monomer to bind to the COVID virus and host
target so that they could block the virus-host binding sites.
Curcumin has been shown to improve non-alcoholic fatty liver
disease (NAFLD) severity and increase liver steatosis resolution
compared to the placebo groups. Besides improving the liver
ultrasonographic findings, curcumin also reduced serum liver
enzymes, total cholesterol, and BMI. There is no major side
effect, and our findings showed no difference in the adverse
effect between the two groups. Curcumin was also found to reduce
triglycerides if taken more than eight weeks’ duration.
Our meta-analysis shows that curcumin has favorable effect on
liver ultrasonographic findings, reduced serum liver enzymes,
total cholesterol, and BMI in participants with non-alcoholic
fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Therefore, promoting curcumin as an
adjuvant treatment on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
patients might be justified.
Profiling of curcumin-treated T47D
human breast cancer cells by a system-based approach
Gene Reports | June 2022
This study investigated the
regulatory mechanism of curcumin in breast cancer cells.
Curcumin triggers cell death-related pathways and regulates the
metabolism of lipids and apoptotic processes in T47D cells.
Curcumin signature had significant prognostic power. Regulatory
network analyses found specific proteins, microRNAs and
transcription factors as the hub nodes, which corresponded to
the effects of curcumin treatment. This work provides a picture
of the cytotoxicity mechanism of curcumin and potential
therapeutic targets for treatment optimization of breast cancer.
The efficacy of curcumin-piperine co-supplementation
on clinical symptoms, duration, severity, and inflammatory
factors in COVID-19 outpatients: a randomized double-blind,
placebo-controlled trial
Trials | June 2022
Curcumin as an anti-inflammatory agent can have a positive
effect on the control of COVID-19 complications. This study
aimed to assess the efficacy of curcumin-piperine
supplementation on clinical symptoms, duration, severity, and
inflammatory factors in patients with COVID-19. Forty-six
outpatients with COVID-19 disease were randomly allocated to
receive two capsules of curcumin-piperine; each capsule
contained 500 mg curcumin plus 5 mg piperine or placebo for 14
days. The present study results showed that curcumin-piperine
co-supplementation in outpatients with COVID-19 could
significantly reduce weakness.
Curcumin
attenuates vascular calcification via the exosomal
miR-92b-3p/KLF4 axis
Experimental Biology
and Medicine | June 2022
Curcumin is a natural polyphenolic
compound that has hypolipidemic, anti-inflammatory, and
antioxidant effects on the cardiovascular system. Exosomes are
known to have extensive miRNAs for intercellular regulation. Our
study suggests that curcumin attenuates vascular
calcification.
Role of Curcumin in the Management of Schizophrenia: A Narrative
Review
Indian Journal of Psychological
Medicine | June 2022
Curcumin is a polyphenolic molecule
derived from Curcuma longa. In traditional medicine,
turmeric is commonly used as an anti-inflammatory and antiseptic
agent. Its antioxidant property and low toxicity potential are
utilized in physical disorders like rheumatioid arthritis,
cardiovascular disorders, asthma, and neuropsychiatric disorders
like Alzheimer’s dementia and Parkinsonism. There are no
available reports of toxicity in humans following long-standing
use of curcumin. An exploratory proof-of-concept study examined
the effects of curcumin combined with piperine (from black
pepper extract–used to improve the bioavailability of curcumin)
as an add-on to the ongoing antipsychotic treatment. Fifteen
chronic schizophrenia patients were randomized to receive 1 g vs
4 g of add-on curcumin and piperine compounds. At the end of 16
weeks, both groups showed significant improvements in total
scores and general psychopathology subscale of the Positive and
Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Both the doses were tolerated
well without much adverse effects. The role of curcumin in the
management of depression and bipolar disorder has been proposed
recently. Curcumin as an add-on to antidepressant drugs has been
convincingly shown to reduce depressive symptoms, compared to
placebo add-on. A recent meta-analysis supported the utility of
adjunctive curcumin in the management of depression and anxiety
disorders. Notably, curcumin was tolerable and safe in all those
randomized human clinical trials. Preclinical studies
support curcumin’s role in ameliorating the metabolic side
effects of antipsychotics such as olanzapine 28 and clozapine.
Also, pretreatment with curcumin prevented the development of
tardive extrapyramidal syndromes. In both haloperidol and
clozapine exposed rats, pretreatment with curcumin successfully
prevented the development to tardive orofacial movements.
Curcumin’s antioxidant, free radical scavenging, and
antiapoptotic properties are postulated to underlie this
preventive mechanism. Preclinical studies also reported
curcumin’s beneficial effects in preventing and reducing
extrapyramidal and metabolic side effects. Preclinical and
clinical trials reported curcumin’s potential role in the
management of schizophrenia.
Comparative
Study of the Anticoagulant Activity of Zingiber Officinale and
Curcuma longa Rhizomes Extracts in Blood Samples of Normal
Individuals
Pakistan Journal of Medical &
Health Sciences | June 2022
The in vitro anticoagulant effect
demonstrated that ginger and curcumin extracts had equal
anticoagulant activity, but curcumin has a higher anticoagulant
impact with considerable PT prolongation.
Curcumin and Related Compounds in Cancer Cells: New
Avenues for Old Molecules
Frontiers in
Pharmacology | June 2022
Curcumin and related compounds are
bioactive compounds mainly derived from natural sources and
known for years for their pleiotropic effects. These compounds
show anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-microbial and anti-tumor
effects (Chiao et al., 1995; Beauregard et al., 2015; Balaha et
al., 2021), mainly ascribable to anti-inflammatory and
antioxidant activities. Curcumin and derivatives have been
proposed as potential therapeutic agents in selected cancer
types such as prostate, colon, breast and thyroid cancer (Schwertheim
et al., 2017; Mbese et al., 2019) and their anticancer effects
have been tested in vitro and in vivo in combination with
chemotherapeutic agents and radiotherapy (Yu et al., 2021).
Curcumin has shown to amplify the anticancer effects of drugs
(e.g., doxorubicin, cisplatin, gefitinib) and radiotherapy (Tan
and Norhaizan, 2019; Ashrafizadeh et al., 2020). For instance,
curcumin displays a synergistic effect with some
chemotherapeutic agents such as 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin (Farhood
et al., 2019) while protecting normal tissues from cell death,
and therefore without side effects.
Effect of Interval Training and Curcumin on BAX,
Bcl-2, and Caspase-3 Enzyme Activity in Rats
Gene, Cell and Tissue | June 2022
Curcumin is a
polyphenol used as a painkiller, anti-inflammatory agent, and a
source of powerful antioxidants. Numerous studies have confirmed
the biological effects of curcumin and introduced it into
various pathological conditions. It contains many anti-diabetic,
anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant agents. Curcumin
activates the caspase-3 enzyme and releases cytochrome c from
the mitochondria to the cytosol. Also, curcumin can improve
athletic performance and delay exercise fatigue. Studies have
shown that curcumin synergizes with 5-fluorouracil and enhances
apoptosis in cancer cells in xenograft mice. If curcumin enters
cancer cells, it activates programmed cell death pathways.
High-intensity interval training did not reduce BAX protein, but
the training and curcumin supplementation increased Bcl-2
protein expression and neutralized the BAX effect. Curcumin
supplementation combined with intense interval training resulted
in synergy and reduced cell programming mortality. Therefore,
curcumin supplementation and intermittent exercise can reduce
cell apoptosis and programmed cell death.
Curcumin Blocks High Glucose-Induced Podocyte Injury
via RIPK3-Dependent Pathway
Frontiers in
Cell and Developmental Biology | June 2022
Curcumin, a
natural hydrophobic polyphenol compound responsible for the
yellow color in Curcuma longa, has gathered attention
from various research fields due to its natural antioxidant,
anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antiangiogenic, and antiapoptotic
effects (Gururaj et al., 2002; Majithiya and Balaraman, 2005;
Koeberle et al., 2009; Perrone et al., 2015; Zhang et al.,
2020). The effect of curcumin on high glucose-induced podocyte
injury has been discussed in few studies, mainly focusing on
curcumin’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties (Kanitkar
et al., 2008; Meng et al., 2013; Den Hartogh et al., 2019).
Curcumin has recently been reported to have a protective effect
on hepatocyte or neuronal cells prone to necroptosis (Dai et
al., 2013; Lu et al., 2016). Our study showed that curcumin had
protective effects against oxidative stress, inflammatory
response, and fibrosis in high glucose-induced podocyte injury,
eventually improving podocyte function. These renoprotective
effects of curcumin might be associated with its ability to
inhibit high glucose-induced RIPK3 expression by inhibiting
oxidative stress. Our observations suggest that curcumin might
be a potential therapeutic agent to minimize the progression of
podocytopathy caused by diabetes as an inhibitor of RIPK3.
Results indicate that curcumin treatment can protect against
high glucose-induced podocyte injuries by suppressing the
abnormal expression of ROS and RIPK3. Thus, curcumin might be a
potential therapeutic agent for diabetic nephropathy as an
inhibitor of RIPK3.
Curcumin activates NLRC4, AIM2, and IFI16
inflammasomes and induces pyroptosis by up-regulated ISG3
transcript factor in acute myeloid leukemia cell lines
Cancer Biology & Therapy | June 2022
Curcumin, an active
ingredient derived from turmeric, has been recognized for its
medicinal properties, including antioxidant, anti‐inflammation,
radical‐scavenging, anti-solid and -blood tumor, and so on. The
anticancer effects of curcumin mainly result from multiple
biochemical mechanisms that are involved in the regulation of
programmed cell death, such as apoptosis, autophagy. Recent
studies have found that curcumin can induce pyroptosis of solid
tumor cells. Prior studies have shown that curcumin exert
anti-cancer effects by induction of apoptosis and autophagy. We
have discovered that curcumin can induce leukemia cell death by
increasing apoptosis and pyroptosis and that activated AIM2,
IFI16, and NLRC4 inflammasomes play a key role in this process.
In addition, the anti-leukemia effect of curcumin is affected by
the expression of GSDMD. Thus, pyroptosis may be a potential new
strategy for treating leukemia, and GSDMD is a biomarker to
evaluate curcumin sensitivity in the leukemia therapy.
Effect
of Curcumin on Apoptosis of Acute T-Lymphoblastic Leukemia Cells
CNKI | June 2022
Curcumin can enhance the apoptosis of T-cell
acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cells induced by Mcl-1
small molecule inhibitor UMI-77 by reducing the mitochondrial
membrane potential, the mechanism may be related to the
inhibition of Notch1 signaling pathway.
Curcumin inhibits the cancer‑associated
fibroblast‑derived chemoresistance of gastric cancer
International Journal of Oncology | June 2022
Curcumin
abrogated the CAF‑mediated activation of the JAK/STAT3 signaling
pathway in GC cells. In vivo data revealed the synergistic
effects of curcumin with 5‑FU treatment in xenograft GC tumors.
These data strongly suggest that the suppression of the
JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway counteracts the CAF‑induced
chemoresistance of GC cells. It is suggested that curcumin may
be a suitable natural product which may be used to overcome
chemoresistance by inhibiting the CAF‑induced activation of the
JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway in GC.
The effect of curcumin supplementation on
delayed-onset muscle soreness, inflammation, muscle strength,
and joint flexibility: A systematic review
Phytotherapy Research | May 2022
Curcumin supplementation
significantly reduced serum creatine kinase activity, muscle
soreness, and TNF-α concentration. Also, curcumin
supplementation elicited significant improvements in maximal
voluntary contraction (MVC) and range of motion (ROM). Curcumin
supplementation may improve some aspects of delayed-onset muscle
soreness (DOMS), including muscle damage, muscle soreness,
inflammation, muscle strength, and joint flexibility.
Antiproliferative
Effects of Curcumin Different Types of Breast Cancer
Journal of Cancer Prevention | May 2022
Breast cancer is one
of the most frequently diagnosed malignancy among women.
Turmeric is isolated from Curcuma longa. Curcumin is main
curcuminoid of the turmeric which is a member of Zingiberaceae.
In this current study antiproliferative effects of curcumin were
investigated in luminal A breast cancer cell line MCF-7 and
triple negative breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231. Curcumin,
which has antiproliferative effects on breast cancer cells, is
thought to be effective in cancer treatment.
Effect
of Curcumin on Hippocampal Neurons, Learning, and Spatial Memory
in a Model of Global Cerebral Ischemia
Red
Crescent Medical Journal | May 2022
Curcumin administration
reduced spatial memory impairment in the treatment group
compared to the ischemia group. These results suggest that
pretreatment with curcumin can improve memory and learning
disorders and hippocampal neuron damage following ischemia.
Role of curcumin in ameliorating hypertension and
associated conditions: a mechanistic insight
Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry | May 2022
Since ancient
times, curcumin has been in use as food spices and folk remedy
to treat cough, cold, cuts and wounds, and skin diseases.
Preclinical and clinical studies have indicated that curcumin
acts a promising therapeutic agent in the management of a wide
array of health issues, viz., hyperlipidemia, metabolic
syndrome, anxiety, arthritis, cancer and inflammatory diseases.
Owing to its enormous potential, recent research has been
focused on the synthesis of curcumin and its analogues for the
management of metabolic disorders. In the current scenario,
hypertension is considered as a key risk factor due to its
involvement in various pathogeneses. Mechanistically, curcumin
and its analogues have been reported to elicit anti-hypertensive
effect through diverse signalling pathways.
The
effects of curcumin as dietary supplement for patients with
COVID-19: A systematic review of randomized clinical trials.
Drug Discoveries & Therapeutics | May 2022
Accumulating evidence has been reported regarding the effect of
curcumin as a dietary antiviral on patients with COVID-19. Our
review revealed that curcumin might have a positive effect on
relieving COVID-19 related inflammatory response due to its
powerful immune-modulatory effects on cytokines production,
T-cell responses, and gene expression. These findings suggest
that curcumin confers clinical benefits in patients with
COVID-19.
Molecular
Mechanism of Curcumin and Its Analogs as Multifunctional
Compounds against Pancreatic Cancer
Nutrition and Cancer | May 2022
Curcumin is a natural
chemical substance obtained from plants with a wide range of
pharmacological activities. Research evidence suggests that
curcumin can influence PC development through multiple molecular
mechanisms. This review aims to summarize the mechanisms
of action of curcumin in preclinical and clinical studies on PC
and research progress in enhancing its bioavailability.
An
Overview of Parkinson's Disease: Curcumin as a Possible
Alternative Treatment
Cureus | May 2022
Curcumin, turmeric's active ingredient, has antioxidant,
anti-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory properties that protect
tissues from the harmful effects of reactive oxygen species
(ROS). Curcumin's protective properties start with its
ability to cross the blood-brain barrier due to its lipophilic
nature. Curcumin has various protective properties in the brain,
including protection against toxic metals and ROS. Toxic metal
ions can interfere improperly with tissues in the brain, causing
neurological damage. Curcumin, as a flavonoid, has antioxidant
properties that are potentially stronger than typical
antioxidants such as vitamins C and E.
Curcumin also protects against A53T α-synuclein
aggregation and monoamine oxidase B, becoming a compound of
interest in treating neurodegenerative disorders such as
Parkinson's disease. Curcumin has been found to protect
nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons from damage in animal models.
Curcumin had protective effects on alpha7-nicotinic
acetylcholine receptors after administration of
6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) in rats with a curcumin dose of 200
mg/kg. Curcumin restored nigrostriatal dopamine neurons to 87.3%
and 84.8%. Curcumin's ability to donate an H ion from the
beta-diketone moiety is thought to be responsible for its
anti-ROS properties. Curcumin protects mitochondria and neurons
from the damaging effects of ROS by donating an H ion.
Curcumin's powerful antioxidant capabilities, including
chelation of harmful metals and lowering ROS, may help reduce
inflammation and apoptosis. Because neurons are terminal
tissues, reducing ROS may improve their longevity and the
efficacy of pharmaceutical therapies. These findings imply that
curcumin could be used in conjunction with standard Parkinson's
disease medication to improve treatment and results.
Antitumor Properties of Curcumin in Breast Cancer Based on
Preclinical Studies: A Systematic Review
Cancers | May 2022
Studies have shown that curcumin
administered at different concentrations inhibited
proliferation, decreased viability, and induced apoptosis in
human and animal breast cancer cells. This review assesses
the antitumor effects of curcumin on breast cancer reported in
preclinical in vitro and in vivo animal models. We used five
databases to search for preclinical studies published up to May
2021. The assessments included the effects of curcumin on the
proliferation, viability, and apoptosis of breast cancer cell
lineages and on tumor volume. In total, 60 articles met the
inclusion criteria. Curcumin administered at different
concentrations and via different routes of administration
inhibited proliferation, decreased viability, and induced
apoptosis in human and animal breast cancer cells.
Docking
Analysis of Some Bioactive Compounds from Traditional Plants
against SARS-CoV-2
Molecules | May 2022
Curcumin and its analogues are the main phytonutrients of
turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) which is widely used
around the world as culinary spices, traditional medicine as
well as a popular dietary supplement ingredient due to its wide
range of health benefits including anti-inflammation,
anti-cancer, cardiovascular regulation, respiratory, and immune
system benefits. In addition, the suppression of multiple
cytokines by curcumin suggested that it may be a useful approach
in treating curcumin, and demothoxycurcumin exhibited high
binding affinity on SARS-CoV-2 S- protein, PLpro, and RdRp.
Binding of these proteins interfere with the viral entry,
replication, and immune response evasion. Therefore, these
compounds may have a great potential for inhibiting the virus.
Curcumin
and Thymoquinone Combination Attenuates Breast Cancer Cell
Lines’ Progression
Integrative Cancer
Therapies | May 2022
Curcumin, the active ingredient of
Curcuma longa, is the most studied compound described as a
potential anticancer agent. Curcumin targets multiple
signaling/molecular pathways including, Rb, p53,
mitogen-activated protein kinase, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase
(PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT), and nuclear factor kappa B cells
(NF-κB). Previous studies have demonstrated that curcumin can
inhibit cancer cell proliferation. Recently, curcumin was
reported to suppress breast cancer cell proliferation and
migration through autophagy-dependent AKT degradation and
increased natural killer cells activity. Curcumin, TQ, and their
combination induced significant apoptosis of both cells and
hindered their progression. Several reports have shown the
anticancer effect of either curcumin or TQ against MCF7
and MDA-MB-231 cell lines. One interesting finding is
curcumin , TQ, and their combination had synergistic effects.
Curcumin decreased proliferation and colony formation
activities in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines. This study
supports evidence from previous observations of
Effenberger-Neidnicht and Schobert,31 Attoub et al,32 Masuelli
et al,33 Zhou et al,34 and El-Far et al16 who reported
significant increases in caspase-3 expression, protein levels,
or activities in either MCF7 or MDA-MB-231 cell lines treated
with curcumin. These results suggest the promising anticancer
benefit of the curcumin and TQ combination against breast
cancer.
Curcumin Inhibits the Growth and Metastasis of
Melanoma via miR-222-3p/SOX10/Notch Axis
Disease Markers | May 2022
Due to its antiinflammatory and
antioxidant properties, curcumin has been also reported to have
significant health benefits, including improved brain function
and anticancer/anti-therosclerotic properties. A previous study
has been indicated that curcumin could inhibit breast cancer
cells proliferation and invasion via repressing the NF-κB
inducing genes. It has been suggested that curcumin could
influence the G0/G1 phase arrest by MTA1- (metastasis-associated
protein 1-) induced inactivation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway in the
lung cancer cell. In gastric cancer, curcumin could induce MMP
proteins dissipation and cytochrome C into the cytosol in
SGC-7901 cell lines, resulting in the downregulation of
migration ability and apoptosis escaping. In colon cancer HCT116
and HT29 cells, curcumin could inhibit the level and activity of
hexokinase II (HKII) by a concentration-dependent manner,
inducing cell apoptosis. There is also an increasing number of
studies showing that curcumin can also induce apoptosis and
inhibit proliferation of melanoma cancer cells. In summary,
these results indicated that curcumin was a key role in impeding
the proliferation, migration, and invasion ability of melanoma
cells. Curcumin could inhibit the proliferation, migration, and
invasion of melanoma cells. Furthermore, curcumin repress the
expression of SOX10, Notch1, and HES-1, and increase the
expression of miR-222-3p. In addition, inhibition of miR-222-3p
expression reversed the inhibitory effect of curcumin the growth
of melanoma cells. Curcumin enhances the miR-222-3p level to
reduce SOX10 expression, and ultimately inactivates the Notch
pathway in repressing melanoma proliferation, migration, and
invasion. According to the above, curcumin represents a
potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of melanoma.
Curcumin inhibits spike protein of new SARS-CoV-2
variant of concern (VOC) Omicron
Computers
in Biology and Medicine | May 2022
Curcumin, among seven
phytochemicals, was found to have the most substantial
inhibitory potential with Omicron S protein. Further, it was
found that curcumin could disrupt the Omicron S-hACE2 complex.
The molecular dynamic simulation demonstrated that Curcumin
could form a stable structure with Omicron S in the
physiological environment. Conclusion To conclude, Curcumin can
be considered as a potential therapeutic agent against the
highly infectious Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2.
Curcumin
supplementation may improve metabolic, inflammatory, and obesity
markers in women with rheumatoid arthritis.
Clinical Edge Journal Scan | May 2022
Curcumin consumption
for 8 weeks as a part of an integrated approach could help
modulate metabolic factors, inflammation, and adiposity in women
with rheumatoid arthritis. Major finding: After 8 weeks, insulin
resistance, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, serum levels of
high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and triglycerides improved
significantly in the curcumin supplementation vs. placebo group.
Moreover, curcumin supplementation significantly decreased mean
weight, body mass index, and waist circumference vs. no
significant changes observed in placebo group.
Curcumin can improve Parkinson's disease via
activating BDNF/PI3k/Akt signaling pathways
Food and Chemical Toxicology | May 2022
Curcumin, as one of
the natural polyphenols, is significant in stimulating
PI3k/Akt/glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) and BDNF/tyrosine
kinase receptor B (TrkB)/PI3k/Akt signaling pathways, has great
potential in neurodegenerative diseases and other different
pathological settings. Curcumin can delay the progression of
Parkinson's disease by protecting nerve cells.
The
potential of curcumin for treating spinal cord injury: a
meta-analysis study
Nutritional
Neuroscience | May 2022
Curcumin had a strong significance in
improving functional recovery after spinal cord injury. When
curcumin was administered daily, it had a stronger effect than
single-dose treatment or weekly administration. Curcumin also
significantly reduced the expression of GFAP (Glial fibrillary
acidic protein) marker compared to untreated groups. These
findings suggest that daily administration of curcumin can be an
effective approach to improving functional recovery after spinal
cord injury.
Therapeutic
role of curcumin in adult neurogenesis for management of
psychiatric and neurological disorders: a scientometric study to
an in-depth review
Critical Reviews in Food
Science and Nutrition | May 2022
Curcumin is a primary
constituent of curcuminoid that exerts several positive
pharmacological effects on aberrant neurogenesis. We explore the
mechanisms by which curcumin regulates adult neurogenesis and in
turn affects psychiatric diseases, i.e., depression and
neurological disorders among them traumatic brain injury (TBI),
stroke, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Gulf War Illness (GWI) and
Fragile X syndrome (FXS). This review aims to elucidate the
therapeutic effects and mechanisms of curcumin on adult
neurogenesis in various psychiatric and neurological disorders.
Specifically, we discuss the regulatory role of curcumin in
different activities of neural stem cells (NSCs), including
proliferation, differentiation, and migration of NSCs. This is
geared toward providing novel application prospects of curcumin
in treating psychiatric and neurological disorders by regulating
adult neurogenesis.
The Impact of Curcumin on the Inflammatory Profile
of SW982 Cells in a Rheumatoid Arthritis Model
Journal of Immunology Research | May 2022
Curcumin, a natural
polyphenol extracted from Curcuma longa, possesses plenty of
proven properties, beneficial in ameliorating autoimmunological
diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis. Due to its structure,
curcumin is a free radical scavenger, reducing redox-related
inflammatory signaling. Profitable attributes of curcumin have
been shown to lay a heavy impact on the functionality of
rheumatoid arthritis by reducing their survivability and hence
the number of overproliferating cells, decreasing expression of
IL-1β, TNF-α, and COX-2 proteins and diminishing production of
tissue destroying metalloproteinases. Presented
anti-inflammatory properties, safety, and low cost of usage make
curcumin a great candidate for potential therapies, which are
already tested in trials conducted on patients with Rheumatoid
arthritis. Aside from proving the overall anti-inflammatory
properties of curcumin, results of conducted experiments showed
some of the molecular basics of its action. Conducted
investigations indicate the promising role of curcumin in
decreasing the inflammation, enhancing its position as the
potential compound in potential rreumatoid arthritis therapies.
Therapeutic
Effects of Curcumin on Osteoarthritis and Its Protection of
Chondrocytes
Alternative Therapies in
Health and Medicine | May 2022
The curcumin group show
higher improvements in safety, joint mobility, and inhibition of
inflammation. In-vitro experiments showed that curcumin
inhibited the apoptosis rate of chondrocytes and the levels of
inflammatory factors, while the Wnt/β-catenin inhibitor did the
opposite. Curcumin can effectively decrease the pathological
results of OA, with a remarkable safety profile; its mechanism
may be the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway to
inhibit the inflammatory reaction and apoptosis in chondrocytes.
Curcumin treats endometriosis in mice by the HIF
signaling pathway
American Journal of
Translational Research | May 2022
Curcumin has become a hot
topic in medical research because of its various pharmacological
activities, such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Curcumin
has therapeutic effects on a variety of human diseases,
including cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, arthritis,
neurologic disorders, Crohn’s disease, and cardiovascular
disease. The modulation of curcumin for tumors has received the
most attention from researchers; approximately 37% of curcumin
studies are related to tumors. Curcumin can modulate multiple
cellular signaling pathways simultaneously to alleviate or
prevent different types of cancer, including multiple myeloma,
colorectal, pancreatic, breast, prostate, and lung cancers,
because it can modulate growth factors, enzymes, transcription
factors, kinases, inflammatory cytokines, and apoptotic
proteins. Previous studies focused on the antioxidant stress
capacity of curcumin, which reduced ROS directly by enhancing
the intracellular levels of reduced glutathione and counteracted
antioxidants by increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes
and activating the Nrf2-Keap1 pathway. Our study demonstrated
for the first time that curcumin can treat endometriosis and
improve disease hypoxia through the HIF-1α pathway. Consistent
with previous studies, curcumin exhibited therapeutic effect on
endometriosis by inhibiting oxidative stress, thus alleviating
inflammation. The real situation may be that curcumin inhibits
oxidative stress on the one hand and improves hypoxia on the
other hand. The number of lesions, volume, and degree of
adhesions were significantly reduced in the curcumin group
compared to the negative control group and the control group.
Curcumin played a role in the treatment of endometriosis by
modulating the HIF signaling pathway, improving the local
hypoxia of the lesion, and reducing the inflammatory state of
endometriosis.
Curcumin: A therapeutic strategy for targeting the
Helicobacter pylori-related diseases
Microbial Pathogenesis | May 2022
Curcumin exhibits
anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, anti-oxidant properties
and is widely used as a natural product-derived medicine or
nutraceutical. Furthermore, curcumin has been reported to have
anti-bacterial activity. Therefore, curcumin might be an
effective herbal-based medicine for preventing, managing, or
treating H. pylori infection. This review discusses the
anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-bacterial properties of
curcumin as it pertains to gastric cancer and H.
pylori-associated diseases.
Curcumin Selectively Induces Colon Cancer Cell
Apoptosis and S Cell Cycle Arrest by Regulates Rb/E2F/p53
Pathway
Journal of Molecular Structure |
May 2022
Curcumin has anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor
activity. Curcumin induces cells apoptosis through
p53-mediated mechanism. Curcumin destabilizes cell cycle
distributions by Rb/CDK/E2F signaling pathway. Curcumin inhibits
tumor growth in vivo. Our data showed that curcumin
preferentially and, in a dose, dependent way inhibited colon
cancer cells proliferation, but was not toxic to normal colon
mucosa epithelial cells. Curcumin induced apoptosis through a
p53-mediated mechanism. Curcumin may be a potential strategy for
the treatment of colon cancer.
The
effect of curcumin on the risk of mortality in patients with
COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized
trials
Phytotherapy Research | April 2022
Curcumin is a natural polyphenolic compound with multiple
benefits, including antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant,
antiplatelet, and cytoprotective, which have been demonstrated
to be advantageous in reducing the progression of several
inflammatory illnesses (Rattis, Ramos, & Celes, 2021). The
aforementioned effects have made curcumin one of the potential
treatment options for patients with COVID-19. Since the
pathophysiology of COVID-19 is known to involve life-threatening
inflammatory reactions, cytokine storms, and coagulopathy,
curcumin can be advantageous due to its anti-inflammatory
effects via the inhibition of inflammasome formation (Yin et
al., 2018). In addition, curcumin also demonstrates antiviral
effects via its ability to bind to the viral primary protease
(Mpro) enzyme of SARS-CoV-2, which is required for viral
replication. Curcumin also prevents viral attachment and passage
into the host cell with great potency (Dourado et al., 2021).
The ability of curcumin in inhibiting the virus-receptor
interaction is in two ways, according to modeling studies: it
inhibits both the spike protein and the ACE2 receptor (Manoharan
et al., 2020). Previously in this journal, the findings of the
randomized trial reported by Hassaniazad et al. (2021) suggest
that curcumin can accelerate the recovery of acute inflammatory
phase in patients with COVID-19 by modulating inflammatory
immune responses.
Curcumin as a Potential Therapeutic Agent in Certain
Cancer Types
Cureus | April 2022
Curcumin has no noticeable toxicity and, in combination with
existing chemotherapeutic agents, is a superior treatment option
for certain cancer types. The potential applications of curcumin
include the prevention and treatment of cancer,
anti-inflammatory/antioxidant, and antiangiogenic activities.
These beneficial effects of curcumin are exerted by modulating
signaling molecules, including cytokines, chemokines,
transcription factors, adhesion molecules, microRNAs, tumor
suppressor genes, etc.. Several studies have shown the antitumor
activity of curcumin on breast cancer, prostate cancer, brain
cancer, lung cancer, and pancreatic cancer. Curcumin is a potent
anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor agent, and it
is extracted from rhizomes of Curcuma species.
Curcumin, as a cancer treatment agent, is recognized to affect
multiple targets in different stages of cancer, including
angiogenesis, proliferation, metastasis, and apoptosis. The
molecular mechanism of action of curcumin has been studied
comprehensively. It exerts this effect by interfering with
several cell-signaling pathways as well as inducing and
inhibiting the production of various growth factors, enzymes, or
cytokines. Its therapeutic effects for the breast, lung,
prostate, intestinal, liver, and hematological malignancies have
been proven in the pre-clinical as well as in vivo studies.
Effects of Curcumin on Inflammatory Response During
Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage
Biointerface
Research in Applied Chemistry | April 2022
The results of this
study explain that curcumin was able to provide anti-
inflammatory effects by reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines such
as IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α. Curcumin can also reduce muscle pain
intensity, decrease CK activity, and increase ROM. The curcumin
dose showed to reduce various inflammatory responses due to
EIMD. Therefore, it is recommended that curcumin be used in
individuals who carry out physical activities, leading to muscle
damage and inflammation. Curcumin's anti-inflammatory benefits
have been well known. Curcumin works by altering COX-2 pathway
signaling, resulting in decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine and
prostaglandin production. Curcumin is able to provide
anti-inflammatory effects by reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines
such as IL-6, IL-8, TNF-a. Curcumin can also reduce muscle pain
intensity, decrease CK activity, and increase ROM. We recommend
that curcumin be used in individuals who engage in physical
activity that results in muscle damage and inflammation.
Specific Metabolic Response of Patient-derived
Organoids to Curcumin of Colorectal Cancer
Journal of Chromatography | April 2022
Curcumin has been found
to be effective in suppressing various phases of colorectal
cancer development. Our research provided a reference for
further revealing the role of curcumin in human-derived
colorectal cancer-like solid tumors.
Quality of Evidence Supporting the Role of Curcuma
Longa Extract/Curcumin for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis: An
Overview of Systematic Reviews
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine | April 2022
Recently, curcuma longa extract, an anti-inflammatory and
antioxidant preparation) has been used in traditional Chinese
medicine and Ayurveda to treat arthritis and has thus become an
attractive treatment option for improving the joint condition of
OA patients. Often used as an alternative medicine or dietary
supplement, turmeric is typically an extract that is
standardized to 80–95% curcuminoids, among which curcumin is the
most active ingredient in turmeric and is “generally regarded as
safe” by the US FDA. In addition, the curcumin alone has
anti-inflammatory properties similar to NSAIDs. Well known for
its good anti-inflammatory effect, curcuma longa extract has a
potential effect on osteoarthritis, and a large number of
researchers have completed several systematic
reviews/meta-analyses in this research area. According to the
available published evidence, curcumin may be effective and safe
for the treatment of osteoarthritis.
Curcumin for attention-deficit–hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD) a systematic review and preliminary behavioral
investigation
Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's
Archives of Pharmacology | April 2022
Curcumin has protective
actions in neuropsychiatric disorders, acting as a
neuroprotective agent. As a first approach, the study aimed at a
systematic review of the potential effects of curcumin on
cognitive performance for attention-deficit–hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD). The results of the Y-Maze Test demonstrated
that curcumin improved spatial memory.
Protective Effects of Curcumin-Regulated Intestinal
Epithelial Autophagy on Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Mice
Gastroenterology Research and Practice | April 2022
This study
was aimed at exploring the ameliorating effect of curcumin on
inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in mice induced by 3% dextran
sodium sulfate (DSS) by regulating intestinal epithelial cell
autophagy. Compared with that of the DSS group, the diet of mice
in the curcumin group was improved, the decline of body weight
was slowed down, the hair glossiness was restored, the blood in
the stool gradually decreased or occulted, the DAI score was
decreased, the colon tissue was significantly improved, the
expressions of LC3-II/LC3-I and Beclin1 were significantly
increased, and the p62 was significantly decreased. Therefore,
curcumin can increase the expression level of autophagy protein in
IBD mice, which may be one of the molecular mechanisms for the
treatment of IBD intestinal inflammation.
Anticancer Properties of Curcumin Against Colorectal
Cancer: A Review
Frontiers in Oncology |
April 2022
Several studies show that curcumin belongs to a
class of plant-derived chemicals that can help prevent
colorectal cancer. Several possible pathways have been proven in
both in vitro and in vivo animal studies. Furthermore, treatment
improvements in animals with inflammatory and hereditary
colorectal cancer have been discovered. The Curcuma longa roots
(dried) plant are used to produce curcumin. It has been
discovered to have anti-carcinogenic properties. Curcumin has
the ability to target colon cancer cells specifically, while
allowing normal cells to remain alone; cancerous cells die as a
result of an elevation in the expression of a protein known as
GADD45a (Gene activated during DNA damage). Studies in humans
have shown the ability of curcumin to tilt the ratio of
pathogenic microbes and beneficial microbes. Curcumin, in fact,
may lower intestinal inflammation via regulating gut flora.
Curcumin was showed to reduce NF-κB activation in colonic
epithelial cells and increase the growth of CD4+ Foxp3+
regulatory T cells in the colonic mucosa in an experimental
DSS-colitis model. Another study revealed the effect of curcumin
consumed in diet could cause an increase in the species of
Clostridium, Enterobacter (have the potential to enhance
mucosal Treg cells by producing butyrate) and reducing the
levels of Blautia and Ruminococcus species
(which has been linked with individuals that has colorectal
cancer) that is present in abundance
The
Curcumin Supplementation with Piperine Can Influence the Acute
Elevation of Exercise-Induced Cytokines: Double-Blind Crossover
Study
Biology | April 2022
The most
important findings of this study were the administration of
curcumin associated with piperine can inhibit the elevation of
plasmatic levels of some cytokines such as IL-2, TNF-α, IFN,
IL-6, and IL-10. This result shows the capacity of curcumin to
modulate an inflammatory response acutely induced by exercise.
Supplementation with 500 mg of curcumin associated with 20 mg of
piperine for seven days was able to inhibit the inflammatory
response after an experimental protocol of running on a
treadmill until voluntary fatigue.
The Golden Spice Curcumin in Cancer: A Perspective
on Finalized Clinical Trials During the Last 10 Years
Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics | April 2022
Curcumin is the main curcuminoid in turmeric and has been found
to possess various beneficial properties, including
anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, neuroprotective,,
chemopreventive, and chemotherapeutic, activities, which make
this phytocompound famous. Curcumin affects multiple signaling
pathways involved in cell proliferation, survival, cell death,
angiogenesis, invasion, migration, and metastasis. Cancer
preventive and anticancer therapeutic actions of curcumin
against different types of cancers, such as breast, liver,
melanoma, lung, and endometrium, are available in the
literature. Based on clinical trials in cancer patients, it was
concluded that even 8 g of curcumin was safe and well tolerated.
As a therapeutic agent, curcumin has been subjected to clinical
trials for various diseases, such as psoriasis, multiple
myeloma, chronic uveitis, pancreatitis, pancreatic, colorectal,
and biliary tract cancers, familial adenomatous polyposis,
inflammatory bowel disorder, Alzheimer's disease, and diabetes
mellitus. Various clinical trials investigated curcumin's
bioavailability, its effect on various cancer types, and the
efficacy of turmeric and curcumin in mitigating the side effects
of cancer chemotherapy and radiotherapy. We have presented 21
clinical trials, 16 of the 21 clinical trials were associated
with the effectiveness of curcumin on various types of cancer,
and the other 5 clinical trials were related to the
evaluation of the curcumin's efficacy in relieving the side
effects of cancer chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The emerging
data from clinical trials confirm that curcumin has considerable
potential to treat cancer patients. It is expected that findings
from ongoing and future clinical trials may help the clinical
application of curcumin in managing different types of cancer.
A Comprehensive Review on the Therapeutic Potential
of Curcuma longa Linn. in Relation to its Major Active
Constituent Curcumin
Frontiers in
Pharmacology | April 2022
Curcumin has a variety of
beneficial effects on humans, according to science. Curcumin’s
efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics have all been examined
extensively in clinical studies over the last 50 years (Gupta et
al., 2013; Subramani et al., 2018). Cancer, CVD, arthritis,
atherosclerosis, diabetes, gastric illness, IBD, psoriasis,
acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and other inflammatory
disorders are all examples of pleiotropic activities. Several
studies in this review discovered the anti-inflammatory effects
of curcumin, including decreased white blood cell, neutrophil,
and eosinophil numbers, as well as protective effects on serum
levels of inflammatory mediators like phospholipase A2 and total
protein in various inflammatory disorders. Curcumin has
anticancer properties by interfering with many cellular systems
and inhibiting/inducing the production of multiple cytokines,
enzymes, or IκKβ, TNF-α, STAT3, COX-2, PKD1, NF-κB, epidermal
growth factor, and MAPK, among others. Under oxidative stress
conditions, curcumin decreased MDA and NO levels while
increasing thiol, SOD, and catalase levels. Curcumin also
influenced the lifespan of organisms by regulating important
signaling pathways such as the mTOR, PKA, and FOXO signaling
pathways. In conditions where the immune system was disturbed,
treatment with C. longa and curcumin enhanced IgE, IL-4, TGF-β,
IL-17, IFN-γ, and the Th1/Th2 ratio. The pharmacological effects
of curcumin on respiratory, allergy, and immunologic problems
suggest that curcumin may have a possible therapeutic effect on
these illnesses. Curcumin delay the onset of diabetes, improve
β-cell functioning, prevent β-cell death, and reduce insulin
resistance in animal models.Traditional medicine has exploited
dried curcumin powder to treat illnesses in history. C. longa is
said to have antitoxic, anticancer, antibacterial,
anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects (Ghotaslou et al.,
2017). Rhizome powder is supposed to flavor various cuisines and
treat numerous disorders, including inflammation, flatulence,
jaundice, menstrual troubles, hematuria, and hemorrhage. It is
also a useful ointment to treat several skin disorders. Curcumin
or diferuloylmethane and numerous volatile oils. C. longa of
India is particularly popular when compared with those from
other countries due to its high curcumin concentration, which is
the most essential and active biological ingredient responsible
for its therapeutic potential (Verma et al., 2018). Curcumin
shows antioxidant features close to vitamins C and E in both
aqueous and fat-soluble extracts.
Effects of turmeric (Curcuma longa) and its
constituent (curcumin) on the metabolic syndrome: An updated
review
Journal of Integrative Medicine |
April 2022
Based on studies, turmeric and its bioactive
component, curcumin, due to their anti-inflammatory and
antioxidant properties, have antidiabetic effects through
increasing insulin release, antihyperlipidemic effects by
increasing fatty acid uptake, anti-obesity effects by decreasing
lipogenesis, and antihypertensive effects by increasing nitric
oxide. According to several in vivo, in vitro and human studies,
it can be concluded that turmeric or curcumin has important
values as a complementary therapy in Metabolic syndrome. In
vitro and in vivo studies have proved that
curcumin has anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and
anti-fat properties. Some studies have shown that curcumin has
protective effects against many chronic diseases, for example,
autoimmune disorders and pulmonary diseases. It has
cardioprotective effects due to its lipid-lowering properties.
In the last few years, much consideration has been paid to the
benefits of curcumin. It can inhibit the development of
atherosclerosis and also significantly reduce the serum levels
of triglyceride (TG) and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol
(LDL-C). Also, curcumin can increase insulin sensitivity through
the inhibition of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B. It has
antioxidant effects in the artery and also can decrease the
levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the basilar artery
wall. It remarkably delayed the onset of stroke. Curcumin in
diabetic conditions decreased the levels of fast blood sugar,
uric acid, serum urea and creatinine. Curcumin significantly
alleviated the severity of liver fibrosis. Curcumin treatment
lowered the increased blood pressure. It also plays a
significant role in obesity and significantly decreases
adiposity. One of curcumin and turmeric anti-diabetic mechanisms
is decreasing the phosphorylation level of insulin and
inhibiting the activation of the NF-κB. Curcumin and turmeric
can treat hypertension by suppressing downregulation of eNOS.
Evaluation
of the Anti-Cancer Effect of Curcumin on MCF-7 Cells in 3D
Culture Conditions to Increase the Efficacy of Breast Cancer
Treatment
Journal of Applied Biotechnology
Reports | April 2022
Curcumin reduces the production of
cellular NO and increases the production of catalase and
glutathione, which confirms the results of the NO test. In
addition, the release of cytochrome c from Mitochondria from
cells treated with different concentrations of curcumin compared
to control cells are significant. The evaluation of the toxicity
effect of curcumin at concentrations of 20, 40, and 80 μM using
comet assay showed that this substance induces apoptosis in
MCF-7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The findings of this
study showed that the anti-cancer effect of curcumin on MCF-7
cells under 3D culture conditions could increase the
effectiveness of treatment. The cancer cell survival rate
actually depended on curcumin concentration.
Curcumin Alleviates DSS-Induced Anxiety-Like
Behaviors via the Microbial-Brain-Gut Axis
Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity | April 2022
Curcumin
is a yellow polyphenol extracted from the rhizome of the ginger
plant, which has been shown to have effects against both
depression and anxiety. Research has indicated that curcumin
affects the gut microbiome and exerts antianxiety and
neuroprotective effects through the microbiota-gut-brain axis.
The results suggested that curcumin can effectively relieve
anxiety-like behaviors caused by DSS in mice. Further, curcumin
treatment can alleviate disturbances in the gut microbiota and
systemic disorders of lipid metabolism caused by DSS. Finally,
through FMT, we verified that curcumin increased
phosphatidylcholine in the prefrontal cortex of the mice and
alleviated DSS-induced anxiety-like behaviors by modulating
specific gut microbiota. We also revealed that
Muribaculaceae may be a key part of the gut microbiota for
curcumin to alleviate DSS-induced anxiety-like behaviors through
the MGB axis. Curcumin is also believed to hold medicinal
properties against many diseases, including gastrointestinal,
cardiovascular, and mental diseases. High concentrations of
curcumin have been detected in the gastrointestinal tract after
oral administration. Supplementation of curcumin significantly
enriched beneficial bacteria such as Butyricicoccus, a
butyrate producing genus in the intestinal tract, and reduced
Ruminococcus, and Mucispirillum, which were
implicated in the development of obesity and diabetes. These
findings were the basis to suggest that curcumin directly
affects the gut microbiome despite its low systemic
bioavailability. Curcumin can relieve inflammation and digestive
tract symptoms caused by IBD.
Curcumin induces cortico-hippocampal neuronal
reshaping and memory improvements in aged mice
Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy | April 2022
Traditional
medicine has long benefitted from naturally occurring molecules
such as curcumin (diferuloymethane). Curcumin is extracted from
the plant Curcuma longa and is known for its synaptic and
antioxidant-related benefits. In this study, we tested the
hypothesis that chronic curcumin treatment reduces cognitive and
cellular effects of aging. Curcumin-treated mice showed improved
learning and memory using the Morris Water Maze and novel object
recognition task. In addition, using the Golgi-Cox stain,
curcumin treatment increased spine density in all evaluated
regions and increased dendritic arborization in the prefrontal
cortex (PFC) layer 3 and CA3 subregion of the hippocampus.
Moreover, chronic curcumin exposure increased synaptophysin and
actin expression and reduced glial fibrillary acidic protein
expression, a marker of astrocytes, in the hippocampus (CA1 and
CA3 subregions), while simultaneously reducing the ROS-related
molecule, metallothionein 3 expression in the PFC and
hippocampus. Collectively, these novel findings suggest that
curcumin reduces cognitive, neuronal and astrocytic signs
of aging in mice. Curcumin is the main metabolite found in
Curcuma longa with potential benefits in aging. Curcumin-treated
mice showed improved learning and memory in aged mice.
Curcumin treatment increased dendritic arborization in the PFC
and hippocampus. Curcumin exposure reduced astrocytic
expression in the hippocampus.
Curcumin
as a Potential Therapeutic Agent in Certain Cancer Types
Cureus Journal of Medical Science | March 2022
Several anticancer compounds have been extracted from plant
sources such as Curcuma longa. Among these, curcumin
(diferuloylmethane) has no noticeable toxicity and, in
combination with existing chemotherapeutic agents, is a superior
treatment option for certain cancer types. Curcumin is an
important component of the curcuminoids family and is isolated
from the rhizome of Curcuma longa L. (turmeric). The potential
applications of curcumin include the prevention and treatment of
cancer, anti-inflammatory/antioxidant, and antiangiogenic
activities. These beneficial effects of curcumin are exerted by
modulating signaling molecules, including cytokines, chemokines,
transcription factors, adhesion molecules, microRNAs, tumor
suppressor genes, etc. Several studies have shown the antitumor
activity of curcumin on breast cancer, prostate cancer, brain
cancer, lung cancer, and pancreatic cancer. Curcumin is a potent
anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor agent, and it
is extracted from rhizomes of Curcuma species. Curcumin, as a
cancer treatment agent, is recognized to affect multiple targets
in different stages of cancer, including angiogenesis,
proliferation, metastasis, and apoptosis. The molecular
mechanism of action of curcumin has been studied
comprehensively. It exerts this effect by interfering with
several cell-signaling pathways as well as inducing and
inhibiting the production of various growth factors, enzymes, or
cytokines. Structural and chemical modifications have been tried
to enhance the selectivity, bioavailability, and efficacy of
curcumin for cancer. Its therapeutic effects for the breast,
lung, prostate, intestinal, liver, and hematological
malignancies have been proven in the pre-clinical as well as in
vivo studies.
An Update on the Exploratory Use of Curcumin in
Neuropsychiatric Disorders
Antioxidants |
March 2022
Curcumin, the active compound of turmeric, is a
polyphenol that has also been largely used as a remedy for
different pathologies in Asia for several decades due to its
healthy and biopharmacological properties, and its lack of
adverse effects, even at high doses. Moreover, curcumin has been
reported to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant,
neuroprotective, and even anti-aging and antineoplasic
properties. Curcumin may exert its anti-inflammatory and
antioxidant (anti-IOS) effects by influencing the synthesis of
some IOS regulators, such as heme-oxygenase-1 (HO1), glutathione
(GSH), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase. These
properties cause curcumin to have an impact on those diseases in
which IOS regulation does not work correctly and are related to
the disease appearance. Thus, curcumin may exert a beneficial
effect on the immune system, reducing B lymphocyte proliferation
by inhibiting B lymphocyte stimulator (BLYS). Curcumin can also
reduce the neutrophil recruitment to areas affected by
inflammation, and can also increase the phagocytic activity of
macrophages. Furthermore, curcumin has proven to be an effective
modulator of the endocrine system, enhancing the uptake or
regulating some hormones, such as insulin. All these properties
have boosted the interest of researchers in this compound in
recent decades. Recently, curcumin has also been used in
different psychiatric disorders due to the likely involvement of
IOS processes in their onset and evolution. In this sense, the
above-described role of curcumin as an anti-IOS drug made this
compound a good candidate to halt or palliate the course of
these diseases. Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and
neuroprotective properties of curcumin, along with many
multi-target beneficial effects, such as the modulation of
monoamine synthesis, have exponentially promoted the
investigation of its properties during this last decade.
Two-hundred and ninty-six articles containing research on
curcumin were published in the PubMed database in 2005. In 2010,
this number increased to 714 and, in 2020, to 2130. A total of
65 preclinical studies and 14 clinical trials were reported.
Most of these studies were conducted on depression,
approximately 88% were preclinical studies and 64% were clinical
studies. In all disorders, curcumin was well tolerated, with no
harmful side effects. This was not surprising, as curcumin has
been used for the last centuries as an additive spice in East
Asian cuisine. Moreover, curcumin was shown to be beneficial in
palliating or reversing symptoms associated with psychiatry in
all the studies analyzed and completed. In clinical trials,
curcumin proved to be effective in alleviating both positive and
negative symptoms of schizophrenia when administered together
with regular antipsychotic medication. The clinical relevance of
these results could be of great importance, due to the adverse
events that can be caused by the extensive and chronic use of
antipsychotics. In this sense, curcumin could exert its
beneficial effect in schizophrenia through an inhibition of PLA2
enzyme. In depression, we found the vast majority of studies, in
both preclinical and clinical domains, showed some beneficial
effect of curcumin in reducing symptoms associated with
depression. In addition to the recognized role of curcumin as an
anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent, positive improvement of
depressive deficits could be exerted through modulation of the
indolamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) enzyme. Therefore, the overall
effect of curcumin in this disorder seems to be mainly positive.
Overall, curcumin, due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant
properties, has been shown to be effective in the vast majority
of the studies presented.
Curcumin-Rich
Curry Consumption and Neurocognitive Function from 4.5-Year
Follow-Up of Community-Dwelling Older Adults
Nutrients | March 2022
Curcumin is a polyphenolic compound
isolated from the roots of Curcuma longa, from which turmeric is
prepared and used widely as a coloring agent, food additive and
traditional Indian and Chinese medicine. For decades, curcumin
and related bioactive curcuminoids (demethoxycurcumin and
bisdemethoxycurcumin) have been the center of interest of
scientific studies worldwide into their therapeutic potentials.
Numerous laboratory studies have documented its antioxidant,
anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, antineoplastic and
antiaging activities. Curcumin is actively being investigated
for its potential neuroprotective benefits. In vitro and in vivo
studies show that curcumin crosses the blood–brain barrier and
can bind to β amyloid (Aβ) and tau-inhibiting Aβ aggregation and
modulate tau processing. Animal studies show that curcumin
decreases Aβ deposition and plaque load in the brain of
transgenic mouse models of AD. Experimental studies have also
demonstrated that curcumin possesses beneficial antiplatelet,
antidiabetic and cardioprotective activities ameliorating
cardiac hypertrophy and chronic heart failure. On top of the
known anti-inflammatory activities of curcumin attenuating
neuroinflammation, this experimental evidence strongly suggests
that curcumin has the potential to prevent accelerated cognitive
decline in humans. Several animal studies have shown that
curcumin improves cognitive function. Randomized controlled
trials in humans are limited but suggest that curcumin could be
safely and effectively used to slow cognitive decline. We found
in this observational cohort study that the consumption of
curcumin-rich curry in food was associated with the maintenance
of higher levels of cognitive functioning over time among
community-dwelling middle-aged and older Asian adults in
Singapore. To our knowledge, this is the first longitudinal
study demonstrating the cognitive benefits of curcumin from
natural dietary food sources in humans. Curcumin exposure from
dietary ingestion appears to offer neuroprotection especially
through its beneficial metabolic, antiplatelet and
cardioprotective properties. There is evidence that the
combination of piperine in black pepper with curcumin in
turmeric increases the bioavailability of curcumin by 2000% and
inhibits the intestinal and hepatic glucuronidation of curcumin.
In this study, real-world observations of the potential
cognitive benefits of curcumin in humans were provided in a
large population-based cohort of community-dwelling older adults
with follow-up over three to five years. The consumption of
dietary curcumin was associated with the maintenance over time
of higher functioning on attention, short-term working memory,
visual spatial constructional ability, language and executive
function among community-dwelling older adults. This suggests
that, notwithstanding its known anti-amyloid, anti-tau,
antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, curcumin exposure
from dietary ingestion appears to offer neuroprotection
especially through its beneficial metabolic, antiplatelet and
cardioprotective properties. The results from the stratified
analysis support this by showing that among participants with
pre-existing metabolic and cardiovascular disease, curry
consumption was associated with enhanced performance on
attention, working memory and language executive function. In
vitro and high-dose animal studies show that curcumin modulates
molecular pathways that restore glucose homeostasis, lipid
metabolism, endothelial function and insulin signaling and may
thus offer potential cardiovascular protective effect. These observations
suggest that population health in terms of healthy cognitive
ageing and potential reduction of risks of dementia could be
enhanced by increased consumption of curcumin in a turmeric-rich
diet.
Potential Role of Curcumin for the Treatment of
Major Depressive Disorder
CNS Drugs | March 2022
Curcumin is the major biologically active
polyphenolic constituent in the turmeric plant (Curcuma longa)
that has been shown to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory,
neuroprotective, anticancer, antimicrobial, and cardioprotective
effects. Interest in curcumin as a treatment for mental health
conditions has increased and there is an expanding body of
preclinical and clinical research examining its antidepressant
and anxiolytic effects. Cell culture and animal studies have
demonstrated that curcuminoids, and in particular curcumin, have
extensive biological activity, including antioxidant,
anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, anticancer, antimicrobial,
and cardioprotective effects. Turmeric has traditionally been
used in Indian folk medicine to treat eye infections, skin
wounds, respiratory conditions and digestive complaints, and to
reduce general inflammation. More recently, interest in curcumin
as a treatment for depression has increased and there is an
expanding body of research confirming antidepressant and
anxiolytic effects from its administration. There is an
increasing body of research supporting the efficacy of curcumin
as a treatment for depression. Positive antidepressant
effects were reported in six of seven trials, with the only
non-significant finding identified by Bergman et al., where
curcumin was used as an adjunct to pharmaceutical
antidepressants and administered for the shortest treatment
period of all the trials (5 weeks). Positive anxiolytic effects
from curcumin administration were also identified in four
trials. Interestingly, in this meta-analysis, an even larger
treatment effect was identified when examining the effects of
curcumin on anxiety symptoms (Hedge’s g = 2.62). In a
meta-analysis conducted in 2016, it was concluded from subgroup
analyses that curcumin had the highest antidepressant effects
when administered to middle-aged adults, for longer treatment
periods, and at higher doses.
Investigation
of the Effect of Curcumin on Protein Targets in NAFLD Using
Bioinformatic Analysis
Nutrients | March
2022
Curcumin is a bioactive polyphenolic compound, isolated
from Curcuma longa Linn, which is endowed with diverse
pharmacological activities. Curcumin improves steatosis,
inflammation, and fibrosis progression. Curcumin may
improve, or inhibit, progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver
disease (NAFLD)through activation/inhibition of non-alcoholic
fatty liver disease (NAFLD)-related genes. Numerous in-vitro and
in-vivo investigations have indicated that curcumin exerts a
positive effect at each stage of non-alcoholic fatty liver
disease (NAFLD), improving both inflammation and the extent of
fat deposition. Curcumin was also shown to inhibit the
progression from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to
fibrosis and decrease the risk of liver cancer. Emerging from
these studies, therefore, are data supporting the significant
clinical effect of curcumin on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
(NAFLD). Curcumin exerts its anti-diabetic, cardioprotective,
hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, and antitumor effects via
NFE2L2 signaling pathways. Curcumin activates NFE2L2 signaling
pathways in four ways. In a high-fat and high-fructose diet (HFHFr)
mouse model, NFE2L2 was downregulated, while curcumin
administration could reverse the abnormal serum biochemical
parameters of hepatic steatosis. Another animal study using
carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) induced liver damage showed that
curcumin’s protective role in reducing inflammation and
oxidative stress was mediated through NFE2L2/HO-1 pathways. An
in-vitro study showed that curcumin, through activation of
NFE2L2, can promote lipocyte activation in stellate cells (HSCs)
and repress hepatic fibrosis. In this study, we identified 14
genes in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) that are
likely to be the target of curcumin and observed that curcumin
induces or inhibits them. According to our results, this
activity of curcumin was in line with improving non-alcoholic
fatty liver disease (NAFLD) based on literature. We believe that
the ongoing clinical trials investigating the effect of curcumin
on fatty liver could yield positive results in the future,
enhancing the therapeutic status of curcumin in this metabolic
disorder.
Molecular
Targets of Curcumin and Its Therapeutic Potential for Ovarian
Cancer
Nutrition and Cancer | March 2022
Curcumin is a natural product found in the rhizome extract of
Curcuma longa and has been extensively used over the last
decades for its unique biological and medicinal properties,
which include: having antioxidant, analgesic, anti-inflammation,
and anti-tumor activities. Curcumin exerts its anticancer
properties against ovarian cancer via multiple mechanisms:
interfering with cellular interactions necessary for metastasis
and recurrence of OC cells, increasing pro-apoptotic proteins as
well as inducing or suppressing generation of different
molecules such as cytokines, transcription factors, enzymes,
protein kinases, and growth factors. Moreover, curcumin
down-regulates various signaling pathways such as PI3K/Akt,
Wnt/β-catenin, JAK/STAT3, and MEK/ERK1/2 axes, which at least in
part have a role in inhibiting further tumor proliferation,
growth, and angiogenesis. In this review, we overview the
potential of incorporating curcumin into the treatment of
ovarian cancer.
Curcumin in Combination with Aerobic Exercise
Improves Follicular Dysfunction
Oxidative
Medicine and Cellular Longevity | March 2022
Curcumin is a
natural medicine containing phenol and quinone groups extracted
from turmeric in the ginger family. It is well known as a safe
dietary supplement worldwide. In several randomized,
double-blinded, clinical trial, patients with PCOS received
curcumin (in doses of 500-1500 mg 3 times daily for 1-3 months)
or placebo. It is suggested that curcumin can effectively
improve blood glucose, insulin resistance, and hyperandrogenemia
in PCOS. Moreover, curcumin reportedly exerts numerous
biological effects to manage human diseases, including cancer
and neurodegenerative and metabolic disorders. Both curcumin
gavage and aerobic exercise improved ovarian function.
Curcumin and aerobic exercise (irisin) can alleviate
hyperandrogenism-induced ER stress and suppress the IRE1α-XBP1
pathway, which prevented ovarian GC apoptosis in PCOS-like rats,
leading to the improvement in the ovarian microenvironment and
promotion of follicular development.
Curcumin
Suppresses Lead-Induced Inflammation and Memory Loss in Mouse
Model and In Silico Molecular Docking
Foods | March 2022
Curcumin is a polyphenol primarily
extracted from turmeric, and has drawn much attention in the
field of natural drug discovery due to its excellent therapeutic
effects, such as its antioxidant, anti-inflammation,
anti-microbial, anti-arthritic, and anti-depressant activities.
In addition, curcumin can modulate cognitive dysfunction and
astrocyte proliferation. Research revealed that curcumin can
suppress memory impairment and can attenuate cognitive deficits.
In mercury chloride-treated offspring mice, curcumin treatment
improved memory and learning activity, antioxidant profile, and
increased AChE, serotonin, and dopamine. Curcumin also
downregulated the AChE gene expressions. Curcumin is known
to have a potent antioxidant activity due to its capacity for
chain-breaking, as well as the hydrogen-donating phenolic groups
in its structure. Much research has also revealed the
neuroprotective effects of curcumin, which operate via exerting
antioxidant effects and reducing oxidative damage. Curcumin
exhibits great promise as a therapeutic agent for a variety of
cancers, as well as for psoriasis, and Alzheimer’s disease. It
has been reported that curcumin suppresses aluminum- and Pb-induced
oxidative neurotoxicity, alterations in NMDA receptors that lead
to decreased antioxidant enzyme activity, and AChE dysfunctions.
Thus, the present study has indicated that curcumin, a potent
antioxidant compound, ameliorated lipid peroxidation and
oxidative stress parameters in mice exposed to Pb, along with
protecting against cholinergic dysfunction. Curcumin
co-treatment effectively suppresses Pb-induced brain
inflammation. Thus, Curcumin may completely bind with AchE to
increase enzymatic activity, which is predicted to have
dose-dependent neuroprotective effects, at least in part via
exerting antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, and
reversing the Pb-induced alterations in transmitters and
enzymes.
Cardioprotective effects of exercise and curcumin
supplementation against myocardial ischemia–reperfusion injury
Sport Sciences for Health | March 2022
Exercise and curcumin
individually provided cardioprotective effects against
ischemia–reperfusion-induced injury which appears to be
associated with an attenuation in mRNA expression of β-amyloid
peptide precursor in addition to processing enzymes and an
increase in mRNA expression of neprilysin.
Curcumin Inhibits Papillary Thyroid Cancer Cell
Proliferation
Analytical Cellular
Pathology | March 2022
Curcumin is a polyphenolic compound
and a member of the Zingiberaceae (ginger) family derived from
turmeric plants. It has been extensively used in Chinese
medicine to treat various diseases, including inflammation and
cancer. Curcumin was found to participate in the process of
pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer, and hepatocellular cancer
by regulating specific lncRNAs and miRNAs. In addition, curcumin
can suppress PTC cell metastasis. Curcumin was shown to enhance
the anticancer activity of cisplatin in PTC cells and cancer
stem-like cells by regulating the JAK/STAT3 signaling. In
conclusion, the present study provides evidence that curcumin
promotes apoptosis and inhibits proliferation and the Warburg
effect by inhibiting LINC00691 in B-CPAP cells. Moreover, the
specific molecular mechanism might be mediated through the Akt
signaling pathway. This study provides a theoretical basis for
the treatment of PTC with curcumin.
Curcumin
as an Enhancer of Therapeutic Efficiency of Chemotherapy Drugs
in Breast Cancer
International Journal of
Molecular Sciences | February 2022
Collectively, curcumin in
combination with chemotherapy drugs may improve their clinical
application in breast cancer therapy, and it is of considerable
value to develop as an adjunct for combination chemotherapy with
current drugs to treat breast cancer. Curcumin is an ideal
chemopreventive and chemotherapy agent owning to its
multitargeting function on various regulatory molecules, key
signaling pathways, and pharmacological safety. This review
aimed to elucidate the potential role of curcumin in enhancing
the efficacy of doxorubicin, paclitaxel, 5-fluorouracil, and
cisplatin via combinational therapy. Additionally, the molecular
mechanisms underlying the chemosensitizing activity of these
combinations have been addressed. Overall, based on the
promising therapeutic potential of curcumin in combination with
conventional chemotherapy drugs, curcumin is of considerable
value to develop as an adjunct for combination chemotherapy with
current drugs to treat breast cancer.
Effects of curcumin supplementation on metabolic
parameters, inflammatory factors and obesity values in women
with rheumatoid arthritis: A randomized, double-blind,
placebo-controlled clinical trial
Phytotherapy Research | February 2022
Curcumin
supplementation significantly decreased homeostatic model
assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), erythrocyte
sedimentation rate, serum levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive
protein and triglycerides, weight, body mass index, and waist
circumference of patients compared with the placebo at the end
of the study (p < .05 for all). HOMA-IR and triglyceride levels
significantly increased within the placebo group.
Curcumin induces autophagic cell death in human
thyroid cancer cells
Toxicology in Vitro |
February 2022
Curcumin acts as an autophagy inducer on many
cancer cells. In the present study, curcumin significantly
inhibited the growth of thyroid cancer cells. Autophagy was
markedly induced by curcumin treatment as evidenced by an
increase in LC3-II conversion, beclin-1 accumulation, p62
degradation as well as the increased formation of acidic
vesicular organelles (AVOs). 3-MA, an autophagy inhibitor,
partially rescued thyroid cancer cells from curcumin-induced
cell death. Additionally, curcumin was found to exert selective
cytotoxicity on thyroid cancer cells but not normal epithelial
cells and acted as an autophagy inducer through activation of
MAPK while inhibition of mTOR pathways.
Effect
of Curcumin in Experimental Pulmonary Tuberculosis:
Antimycobacterial Activity in the Lungs and Anti-Inflammatory
Effect in the Brain
International Journal
of Molecular Sciences | February 2022
Curcumin is a natural
product with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial
activities. Curcumin is a polyphenolic compound obtained from
the rhizomes of Curcuma longa, a rhizomatous native plant from
South and Southeast Asia that belongs to the family
Zingiberaceae. Research has revealed that curcumin has
pleiotropic properties, including anti-inflammatory,
antioxidant, chemopreventive, chemotherapeutic activity,
neuroprotective properties, and antibacterial activity. The
pleiotropic actions of curcumin are derived from its complex
chemistry and its ability to influence multiple signaling
pathways. Curcumin controls the inflammatory response by
downregulating the activity of the enzymes cyclooxygenase-2
(COX-2), lipoxygenase, and inducible nitric oxide synthase
(iNOS). In addition, curcumin suppresses the activation of
nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activation; inhibits the
production of the inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, interleukin
(IL)-1, -2, -6, -8, and -12, monocyte chemoattractant protein
(MCP) and migration inhibitory protein; and down-regulates
mitogen-activated and Janus kinases. In addition, curcumin
protects the brain from damage through the upregulated
expression of the transcription factor, the nuclear factor
erythroid 2-related to factor 2 (Nrf2) expression, and the
hippocampal levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).
Indeed, there is evidence that curcumin has a beneficial effect
on humans suffering from depression and anxiety, linked to
curcumin anti-inflammatory effects, dopamine release,
antioxidant activity, and neurotrophic factor regulation.
Curcumin also resulted in a dose-dependent increase in
hippocampal BDNF in a model of depression. These data coincide
with our results, where we observed a significant increase in
BDNF levels in the hippocampus of animals with TB treated with
curcumin, related to the beneficial effect of curcumin on
memory and the decrease in depression-like behavior in this
model. Curcumin protected from injury in a model of an ischemic
brain through the Akt/Nrf2 pathway. Curcumin has a
neuroprotective effect in a model of traumatic brain injury
(TBI) associated with activating the Nrf2 pathway. These data
suggest that treatment with curcumin has a beneficial effect on
various neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases,
including those related to pulmonary TB. This investigation
revealed the efficacy of curcumin administration as a novel
treatment for controlling neuroinflammation in chronic
infectious diseases such as pulmonary TB. In addition, it is
worth noting that curcumin had a therapeutic effect on lung
disease, indicating that curcumin might be used as a coadjuvant
treatment in TB chemotherapy.
Curcumin Ameliorates Cardiac Fibrosis
Frontiers in Pharmacology | February 2022
The
therapeutic potential of curcumin has been widely investigated,
including its utilization in various of cardiovascular diseases.
Curcumin’s health benefits has been well-established, including
anti-tumor, anti-viral, anti-oxidative stress,
anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, hypoglycemic etc.
Therapeutically, curcumin exhibits promising potential in
preclinical as well as clinical studies and is currently in
human trials for a variety of conditions, including metabolic
syndrome, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, atherosclerosis,
liver cirrhosis, depression, psoriasis, and Alzheimer’s disease
(Kocaadam and Şanlier, 2017). The immunomodulatory functions of
curcumin arise due to its interactions with cellular and
molecular components during inflammatory reactions. Dietary
exposure to 40 mg/kg curcumin for 5 weeks showed enhanced IgG
levels in rats, suggesting an improvement in immune function
after curcumin intervention (South et al., 1997). Curcumin has
also been shown to regulate macrophage polarization by
increasing the M2 phenotype marker CD163 together with the
anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and decreasing the M1 phenotype
marker CD86 along with the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and
IL-6 (Li et al., 2017). Curcumin significantly ameliorated the
inflammation process subsequent to myocardial infarction,
reflected by decreased expression of CD68+ and CD3+ cells,
accompanied by dramatically improved cardiac function compared
with the placebo group. In addition, cardiac fibrosis is
inhibited by curcumin administration. Mechanistically, we
discovered that curcumin significantly downregulated
pro-inflammatory cytokines in macrophages. Curcumin improves
cardiac function and reduces cardiac fibrosis after myocardial
infarction. Curcumin has roles in various cardiovascular
diseases, including ischemic heart, pressure overload heart, and
metabolic disorder-related cardiac diseases. It is
well-established that curcumin can directly exerts
cardio-protective effect by targeting cardiomyocyte through
various of signaling pathway, like disrupts the p300/GATA4
complex and represses agonist-and p300-induced hypertrophic
responses in cardiomyocytes (Morimoto et al., 2008)or activates
the autophagy by upregulating AMPK and JNK1 to alleviate the
apoptosis of cardiomyocytes under ischemic stimulation (Yao et
al., 2018). In summary, our study revealed that the
administration of curcumin significantly ameliorated
inflammation in the acute phase, as reflected by the promotion
of macrophage apoptosis, accompanied by decreased
pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion, including IL-6, IL1b, and
TNF-α. These findings suggest that curcumin has potential
as a potent therapeutic target in treating adverse remodeling in
ischemic heart disease.
Curcumin sensitizes response to cytarabine in acute
myeloid leukemia by regulating intestinal microbiota
Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology | February 2022
Curcumin
is a natural phenolic compound extracted from curcuma longa,
which exerts a wide range of biological effects, such as
anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidation and anti-fibrosis.
Moreover, Curcumin was also reported to affect energy metabolism
to increase energy expenditure as well as improve insulin
sensitivity in obese mice]. Energy metabolism also plays crucial
roles in response to chemotherapy. Several studies have reported
that targeting energy metabolism could sensitize resistant cells
to chemotherapy, such as oxidative phosphorylation inhibitor
redirected metabolism toward glycolysis to sensitize resistant
cells to cytarabine (Ara-C) in AML. Curcumin could affect
intestinal microbiota to prevent renal failure. Conversely,
intestinal microbiota could also enhance the effect of Curcumin
in ameliorating HFD-induced obesity by enhancing Ucp1-dependent
thermogenesis through regulating bile acids metabolism,
suggesting the interaction between intestinal microbiota and
Curcumin in curing diseases. Curcumin resulted in strengthening
intestinal intact, leading to reduced transfer of bacteria (or
their metabolites) to the blood, causing SQLE inhibition. In
conclusion, we demonstrated that Curcumin sensitizes response to
Ara-C by regulating microbiota and strengthening intestinal
intact is promising in chemoresistant therapy.
Curcumin supplementation in the rhesus monkey: effects on
cognitive decline and neuroinflammation
Boston University Theses & Dissertations | February 2022
Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, is a polyphenol
nutraceutical with potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidative
effects. Several ongoing research studies are underway to
explore this potential anti-aging compound. Curcumin treatment
improved performance on object reversal testing, with treated
monkeys making fewer perseverative type errors. We demonstrated
that curcumin treatment did affect morphological features of
microglia specifically within the while matter. Within the white
matter, curcumin treatment was associated with a significant
increase in microglial ramification, evidenced by greater
process length, number of nodes and convex-hull area and volume.
Increased microglial ramification suggests greater likelihood of
microglial surveillance within the white matter associated with
curcumin treatment. While our findings show the benefit of
curcumin supplementation on cognitive performance and its
effects on microglial morphology, further study is needed to
understand the precise changes that curcumin supplementation may
have on inflammation.
Protective Effects of Curcumin in Cardiovascular Diseases—Impact
on Oxidative Stress and Mitochondria
Cells
| February 2022
In this review, we will highlight the impact
of curcumin on age-related cardiovascular dysfunction, adipose
tissue, and obesity, as well as its protective effects in
atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction. Curcumin can
positively affect different risk factors for CVDs and the
outcome in the diseases themselves which has been shown in a
number of animal models. More importantly, it is effective
against cardiovascular diseases and has shown a promising impact
on cardiovascular diseases in clinical studies. Already more
than 20 years ago, it was shown that piperine, an alkaloid
responsible for the pungency of black pepper, dramatically
increases the serum levels of curcumin in rats and humans.
A New Perspective on the Treatment of Alzheimer’s
Disease and Sleep Deprivation-Related Consequences: Can Curcumin
Help?
Oxidative Medicine and Cellular
Longevity | February 2022
Curcumin, a natural compound
isolated from C. longa, has multiple applications in
treatment of various diseases such as cardiovascular diseases,
liver disease, obesity, cancer, inflammatory diseases, and
aging. Besides these applications and activities, curcumin has
been reported to be effective in many neurodegenerative
diseases. Studies have shown that curcumin can lead to many
improvements in the pathological process of Alzheimer’s disease.
Its mechanisms of action can be classified as (I) sustaining
homeostasis of the inflammatory system, (II) increasing the
clearance of toxic substances from the brain, (III) scavenging
free radicals and inducing antioxidant elements, and (IV)
binding and limiting aggregation of misfolded proteins. In
addition to the effects of curcumin on neurodegenerative
diseases, especially Alzheimer’s disease, it has been reported
that curcumin can be beneficial in the management of sleep
deprivation (SD) and SD-induced neurological consequences as
well. The effects of curcumin on the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC),
the protective potential on the dendritic trees from shortening
and shedding induced by chronic SD, and the effects of
SD-induced memory impairments have been demonstrated by in vivo
studies.
Curcumin
protects rats against gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity by
amelioration of oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress
and apoptosis
Pharmaceutical Biology |
February 2022
Curcumin is a major yellow phenolic pigment of
turmeric that is extracted from rhizome of Curcuma longa L.
(Zingiberaceae), a spice widely cultivated in tropical countries
in south and southeast Asia, such as China, India and Thailand (Wanninger
et al. 2015). Numerous studies have shown that curcumin has
excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It has
the ability to inhibit free radical generation, scavenge ROS and
induce an antioxidant response. Moreover, curcumin has also
exerted renoprotective effects in several experimental models,
including diabetic nephropathy, chronic renal failure, ischaemia
and reperfusion; it also combats nephrotoxicity protecting
against renal injury from oxidative stress (Trujillo et al.
2013). Interestingly, curcumin treatment helps protect
against acute myocarditis by inhibition of cardiac oxidative and
ER stress-mediated apoptosis (Mito et al. 2011). Curcumin
eliminates the hydroxyl radical, superoxide radical, singlet
oxygen, nitrogen dioxide and NO (Ruby et al. 1995; Sreejayan and
Rao 1997) and has been shown to inhibit hydrogen peroxide
induced oxidative injury in a renal cell line (Farombi and Ekor
2006) and prevented reduced activity of antioxidant enzymes
including glutathione peroxidase and SOD in rat remnant kidney
(Tapia et al. 2012). These results demonstrated that curcumin
inhibited oxidative stress and restoration of the antioxidant
enzymes leading to improved renal function and rescued kidney
damage in GM-induced nephrotoxicity. These results were in
line with the previous report demonstrating that curcumin
ameliorated high glucose-induced neural tube defects by
suppressing ER stress, caspase activation and apoptosis (Afrin
et al. 2015). Moreover, curcumin treatment also prevented cell
death induced by H2O2 (Wang et al. 2016). It might be suggested
that curcumin attenuated ER stress-induced apoptosis in
GM-induced nephrotoxicity, probably associated with the
antioxidative activity. The GM-induced nephrotoxicity was
contributed by the increasing of oxidative stress, ER stress
activation which eventually resulted in the apoptosis cell
death. These events were restored by the pre-treatment of
curcumin based on its activities to reverse several hallmarks of
nephrotoxicity. These findings emphasized the potential
therapeutic use of curcumin to be developed as an alternative
treatment for nephrotoxicity.
Neuroprotective effects of curcumin on the
cerebellum in a rotenone-induced Parkinson’s Disease Model
CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics | February 2022
Curcumin has
a lipophilic property, can pass through cell membranes, and
exerts intracellular effects. Curcumin crosses the blood brain
barrier and is also detected in cerebrospinal fluid. The
strong antioxidant properties of curcumin scavenge reactive
oxygen species and inhibit lipid peroxidation. In one study,
administration of curcumin improved behavioral alterations,
oxidative damage, and mitochondrial enzyme dysfunction induced
by the administration of rotenone in mice. Curcumin also
restored electrical activity in the hippocampus altered by
rotenone. Curcumin is a strong antioxidant that minimizes
oxidative stress in vivo and in vitro. Curcumin exerts various
beneficial effects in treating and preventing neurodegenerative
diseases, such as stroke and Alzheimer's disease. Additionally,
several studies demonstrated curcumin's ability to inhibit key
Parkinson's disease-associated features, including ROS
formation, apoptosis, cytokine production, oxidative damage, and
cognitive impairment in cell lines and experimental animals.
Moreover, Khuwaja et al. demonstrated that curcumin helps stop
Parkinsonism and has therapeutic potential. Based on the results
of this study, rotenone causes Purkinje cell death and
astrogliosis by increasing oxidative stress in the cerebellar
cortex. Administration of curcumin prevented these effects.
Furthermore, cholinergic neurotransmission alterations induced
by rotenone were suppressed by curcumin, thus confirming the
behavioral and histological findings. This shows that curcumin
attenuated the neurotoxic effects and degenerative histological
changes in the cerebellar cortex and alleviated oxidative stress
in a Parkinson's disease rat model. Thus, curcumin could
have a role in therapeutic strategies for cerebellar affection
related to Parkinson's disease.
Supplements immunologist takes every day to
strengthen immune system
CNBC | February
2022
Curcumin is the main active ingredient in turmeric root
and has been shown to bestow multiple health benefits. In fact,
there are more than 120 human clinical trials showing the
effectiveness of curcumin in treating diseases ranging from
autoimmunity to Alzheimer’s disease. The magic of curcumin is
how it decreases inflammation at multiple levels in the body,
not only helping with symptom relief from pain and arthritis but
also blocking inflammatory cytokines driving autoimmune disease,
heart disease and diabetes. It also improves the health of our
gut bacteria, which adds to our overall immune health. Because
curcumin is not absorbed well and one would have to eat copious
amounts of turmeric root to have significant benefits, I
recommend supplementing with 1,000 milligrams per day with food.
Curcumin
alleviates hepatic steatosis by improving mitochondrial function
in postnatal overfed rats and fatty L02 cells through the SIRT3
pathway
Food & Function | February 2022
It was concluded that postnatal overfeeding damaged
mitochondrial biogenesis and antioxidant response, and increased
hepatic lipids and the severity of high-fat-induced NAFLD, while
curcumin alleviated hepatic steatosis, at least partially, by
enhancing mitochondrial function through SIRT3.
Therapeutic Applications of Curcumin in Diabetes: A
Review and Perspective
BioMed Research
International | February 2022
The curcumin molecule exhibits
a multitargeting ability in various pathological conditions,
which allows translation into a therapeutic or nutraceutical
agent. Curcumin can support balance for oxidative and
inflammatory conditions, metabolic syndrome, arthritis, anxiety,
and hyperlipidemia. Curcumin has antioxidant, antiamyloid,
antimicrobial, antineoplastic, immune-modulating, and
neuroprotective effect. Curcumin also showed antidepressant
activity through modulating the release of serotonin and
dopamine. Diabetics are not able to metabolize well glucose due
to defects in insulin secretion and/or action, and curcumin is
capable to exert a therapeutic effect playing a critical role on
β-cell functions. Several studies have been shown the high
therapeutic properties of curcumin in hyperglycemia, diabetic
wound healing, diabetic neuropathy, diabetic cardiomyopathy, and
diabetic retinopathy and cataract.
Curcumin supplementation in pediatric patients: A
systematic review of current clinical evidence
UWA Medical School | February 2022
This systematic review was
designed to determine the clinical efficacy and safety of
curcumin supplementation for pediatric patients based on
clinical trials in children. We systematically searched
electronic databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science,
and Scopus for all studies that investigated curcumin
administration in the pediatric population without any time
frame limitation. Finally, we identified 16 studies for this
review. Clinical efficacy and safety of curcumin were assessed
in children with inflammatory and immune disorders (including
asthma, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and juvenile
idiopathic arthritis (JIA)), metabolic disorders, autosomal
dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), cystic fibrosis
(CF), tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), and infectious diseases.
Curcumin was administered in a wide range of doses (45 mg-4,000
mg daily) and durations (2-48 weeks). Overall, curcumin was well
tolerated in all studies and improved the severity of
inflammatory and immune disorders and metabolic diseases.
However, more studies are needed to clarify the role of curcumin
supplementation among children with ADPKD, CF, TOF, and
infectious diseases.
Effect of curcumin on body mass index and glycemic
indices in females with PCOS: a systematic review and
meta-analysis of randomized controlled trial
Nutrition & Food Science | February 2022
Random-effects
meta-analysis showed significant effects of curcumin on fasting
blood sugar (FBS) (−3.62 mg/dl, 95% CI [−5.65, −1.58], p-value <
0.001, I2 = 0.0%), insulin level (−1.67 µU/mL, 95% CI [−3.06,
−0.28], p-value = 0.018, I2 = 0.0%) and homeostasis model of
assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (−0.42, 95% CI [−0.76,
−0.09], p-value < 0.01, I2 = 0.0%).
A Plethora of Actions of Curcumin - A Magical Agent
for Treatment of Wide Range of Diseases Varying from
Neuroinflammatory Disease (Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's
disease) IBD to DM and CVD, NAFLD, NASH Along with Various
Cancers
Acta Scientific | February 2022
Curcumin has been evaluated for its biological actions:
Neuroinflammation; Alzheimer’s disease (AD); parkinson’s disease
(PD); antioxidant actions; other anti-inflammatory actions;
cardio protection; hepatoprotection in liver fibrosia; non
alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); non alcoholic
steatohepatitis (NASH); Anti cancer actions. We observed a total
of over 3000 articles and selected 53 articles for this
review with the journals constraints of up to 50 references.
Here we have reviewed in detail the mechanism of action of
Curcumin in various above mentioned diseases along with
transcription factors involved. Recently even in COVID its use
has got documented. In case of cancers, usually it is a good
coagent with other chemotherapeutic drugs, might hamper human
papilloma virus (HPV) infection as well as avoid cancer cervix
generation. In case of NASH, or liver cirrhosis its use with
beta blockers might aid in conversion back towards normalcy.
Curcumin's pleiotropic actions include inflammatory diseases
like cancer, CVD, arthritis, atherosclerosis, DM, gastric
disease, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), psoriasis, HIV etc.
Curcumin is accepted to be a molecule having the capacity to
avoid/slowdown the pathological events resulting in age –
associated dementia, cognitive decrease, or depression.
Additionally, various evaluations have pointed that Curcumin is
a potential anticancer treatment in case of human papilloma
virus (HPV) infection, in addition to primary as well as
malignant squamous cell cancer.
Curcumin Alleviates Dextran Sulfate Sodium-induced
Colitis in Mice Through Regulating Gut Microbiota
Molecular Nutrition & Food Research | February 2022
Results
showed that oral administration with curcumin relieved
macroscopic pathological manifestations, e.g. colon length and
histological change. Moreover, it enhanced intestinal barrier
via increasing expression of tight junction proteins, e.g.
occludin, ZO-1, claudin-3; alleviated DSS-induced intestinal
apoptosis via suppressing caspase-3 pathway; mitigated
intestinal inflammation via inhibiting the MAPK/NFκB/STAT3
pathway. We also noticed that curcumin is beneficial for
modulating abundance of some specific bacteria, including
Akkermansia, Coprococcus, Roseburia, and Turicibacter, as well
as families such as F16, Enterococcaceae, and Aerococcaceae.
Most of the altered bacteria by curcumin are highly correlated
with colitis-associated parameters. Curcumin shows therapeutic
potential against colitis. It may be served as alternative
medicine or adjuvant therapy in the treatment of colitis.
Effectiveness
of Curcumin on Outcomes of Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients: A
Systematic Review of Clinical Trials
Nutrients | January 2022
The natural spice curcumin has
received recent attention in treating diseases involving
perturbations of the immune system and inflammation responses,
such as COVID-19. Curcumin and other curcuminoids are the main
bioactive ingredients of turmeric (Curcuma longa). They have
been used for millennia in the traditional medicines of multiple
cultures due to their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant,
antibacterial, antiviral, antidiabetic, and neuroprotective
properties. Curcuminoids have received approval from the USA
Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and these compounds have
good tolerability and safety. Furthermore, they have already
been tested with some successes in clinical trials targeting
various diseases. Curcumin treatment—as an adjunct therapy—helps
restore the balance between the pro-inflammatory and
anti-inflammatory pathways and, at the same time, reduces the
persistence of common COVID-19 symptoms and decreases mortality.
Together, these findings support curcumin formulations as
adjunctive therapy to reduce the hyper-inflammatory effect in
COVID-19 patients and improve patient outcomes. Curcumin
treatment led to the amelioration of cytokine storm
manifestation by reducing pro-inflammatory factors and
stimulating anti-inflammatory pathways. Thus, these findings
suggest that curcumin treatment may alleviate COVID-19 symptoms
by restoration of the pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory
balance. Furthermore, the study by Pawar et al. showed that
curcumin-piperine supplementation led to fewer thromboembolic
episodes following recovery from COVID-19 infections.
Cancer Chemoprevention: A Strategic Approach Using
Phytochemicals
Frontiers in Pharmacology |
January 2022
Curcumin (diferuloylmethane), a polyphenol
isolated from Curcuma longa is the most studied phytochemical as
a chemopreventive. Curcumin displays a wide variety of
pharmacological functions such as anti-inflammatory agent,
anti-mutagenic agent, antineoplastic agent, hepatoprotective
agent, nutraceutical, anti-microbial agent, anti-oxidant agent,
and immunomodulator. It has been shown to have significant roles
in prevention, treatment and chemo sensitization of cancer cells
(Pavan et al., 2016). Studies have established the
anti-proliferative, anti-angiogenic, anti-metastatic, and
pro-apoptotic properties of curcumin (Anto et al., 2002;
Puliyappadamba et al., 2010; Bava et al., 2011; Vinod et al.,
2013). We have reported that curcumin exhibits potential
chemopreventive effect against nicotine-induced survival
signalling in lung cancer cells. We found that it down-regulates
multiple survival signals induced by nicotine in lung cancer
cells irrespective of their p53 status (Puliyappadamba et al.,
2010). Another study conducted in our laboratory revealed its
chemopreventive efficacy against the lung carcinogenesis induced
by B (a)P, a potential environmental carcinogen found in
cigarette smoke and deep-fried food, in Swiss albino mice (Puliyappadamba
et al., 2015). Curcumin treatment has a significant impact on
improving the general health of colorectal cancer patients by
enhancing expression of p53 molecules in tumour cells and also
by promoting the apoptosis of tumour cells (He et al., 2011;
Pricci et al., 2020). Curcumin intake causes the down-regulation
of NF-kB, COX-2 and phosphorylated STAT3 in peripheral blood
mononuclear cells from patients with pancreatic cancer (Dhillon
et al., 2008). It has been reported that, daily curcumin intake
leads to a significant and dose-dependent reduction in
spontaneous ovarian cancer incidence and tumor growth in Hen
ovarian cancer model indicating a significant role of curcumin
as a chemopreventive strategy for ovarian cancer (Sahin et al.,
2018). The administration of curcumin to paediatric patients
with relapsed brain tumours undergoing chemotherapy increased
their response compared with the controls (Wolff et al., 2012).
Inflammaging
and Brain: Curcumin and Its Beneficial Potential as Regulator of
Microglia Activation
Molecules | January
2022
Curcumin is a natural compound with a polyphenolic
structure. This turmeric extract derives from the rhizome of the
Curcuma longa, a member of Zingiberaceae, and shows a wide range
of biological and pharmacological activities including
antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, immunomodulatory,
and anti-tumor activity. Curcumin is a widely studied polyphenol
isolated from Curcuma longa with a variety of pharmacologic
properties. It is well-known for its healing properties and has
been extensively used in Asian medicine to treat a variety of
illness conditions. The number of studies that suggest
beneficial effects of curcumin on brain pathologies and
age-related diseases is increasing. Curcumin is able to inhibit
the formation of reactive-oxygen species and other
pro-inflammatory mediators that are believed to play a pivotal
role in many age-related diseases. Curcumin has been recently
proposed as a potential useful remedy against neurodegenerative
disorders and brain ageing. In light of this, our current review
aims to discuss the potential positive effects of Curcumin on
the possibility to control inflammaging emphasizing the possible
modulation of inflammaging processes in neurodegenerative
diseases. Curcumin as dietary phenolic compound should be
considered as a pharmacological support for longevity,
especially in neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases,
due to its activity via declining oxidative stress, modulating
signal transduction and gene expression. Curcumin, in fact, is
effective as an immune enhancer in modulating systemic
inflammation and brain pathologies through multiple
communication mechanisms and, for this reason, is hopefully a
particularly promising natural agent in counteracting the
damages of aging and neurodegenerative diseases. In this
respect, the possible interventions by curcumin on microglia
suggest the possibility of this natural product to mediate
regulation of microglia phenotypes and its functions and also to
control redox imbalance and neuroinflammation, thus suggesting a
possible use of curcumin as therapeutic agent in preventing and
managing major chronic inflammatory disorders typical of the
inflammaging process, including brain diseases such as
Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Multiple
Sclerosis. Hence, once again, attention is paid to the
modulatory potential of curcumin in its ability to mediate the
anti-inflammatory effects and consequently to positively
influence immunity and brain aging. Therefore, the use of
curcumin as an anti-inflammatory agent with inhibitory effects
on microglial transformation could be a valid and promising
approach for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.
Multiple lines of evidence show that the involvement of
microglial cells in brain neuroinflammation process typical of
aging may be a target for pharmacological interventions. The
anti-inflammatory activity of curcumin in microglia is
ascribable to the ability of this molecule to inhibit many
pro-inflammatory mediators by impeding inflammatory cascades and
heightening endogenous anti-inflammatory mediators where
curcumin may act as an immunomodulator. In line with what
emerges from this review, there is evidence that the combination
of standard protocols or new therapies with the use of
curcumin-based formulations could be a desirable approach in the
containment and treatment of the inflammaging process, including
that related to the brain.
The Multifaceted Actions of Curcumin in Obesity
Natural Products and Human Diseases | January 2022
Crcumin,
the active ingredient in turmeric, has attracted considerable
research interest in tracking down the possible effects in
protection against obesity and obesity-related comorbidities.
According to the existing literature, curcumin may regulate
lipid metabolism and suppress chronic inflammation interacting
with white adipose tissue, which plays a central role in the
complications associated with obesity. Curcumin also inhibits
the differentiation of adipocyte and improves antioxidant
properties. In the present review, we sought to deliberate the
possible effects of curcumin in downregulating obesity and
curtailing the adverse health effects of obesity.
Curcumin
and Weight Loss: Does It Work?
International Journal of Molecular Sciences | January 2022
Curcumin is a polyphenolic compound that represents the most
important curcuminoid isolated from the rhizome of the plants.
It is believed that curcumin possess subtle effects through
multiple mechanisms and biochemical targets, collectively
leading to substantial health benefits. This indicates that this
compound has potential for preventing (and, in the future,
treating) obesity. Curcumin has many properties, including
antioxidant. The role of antioxidants during the occurrence of
oxidative stress is important, which in turn may contribute to
the prevention or delay of the development of many diseases
(including civilizational) and their possible complications.
Therefore, naturally derived antioxidants such as curcumin are
of high clinical value. The anti-inflammatory effect of curcumin
is equally significant. Curcumin inhibits and regulates tissue
production and secretions of pro-inflammatory cytokine, such as
interleukins or tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). Curcumin is
a potential anti-cancer agent because of its multidirectional
properties with regard to the signaling/molecular pathways.
Curcumin possesses the ability to modulate the core pathways
involved in cancer cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle
arrest, paraptosis, autophagy, oxidative stress and tumor cell
motility. Curcumin and Curcuma longa extract inhibit the growth
of microorganisms, both G(+) and G(-) bacteria, which often
cause human infectious diseases. Curcumin is known to have an
antiviral effect; it also has been suggested as a potential
treatment option for patients with COVID-19. Curcumin has an
anti-diabetic effect through, for example, enhancing glucose
uptake and improving pancreatic beta cell function. In addition,
curcumin contributes to the reduction of the gluconeogenesis
process and to the increase of glucokinase activity. Curcumin
was able to restore oxidative stress and DNA methyltransferase
functions against diabetic retinopathy. Moreover, curcumin has
shown anti-lipidemic effects. There are animal model studies on
the use of curcumin in pregnancy. Due to the anti-inflammatory
activity of this compound, the possibility of using this
compound in the treatment of complications of pregnancy has been
suggested, including Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, PreTerm
Birth, Preeclampsia and exposure to toxic agents and pathogens.
Other activities of curcumin worth mentioning include immune
modulation, cardiovascular protection, anti-pulmonary fibrosis,
anti-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and anti-dementia
activity. There is a growing scientific interest in curcumin’s
therapeutic potential. Indeed, more and more clinical trials
based on curcumin administration have been published or are
underway. Curcumin is a promising natural bioactive compound
which possesses numerous pharmacological activities. It shows
multiple mechanism of action and can affect cellular biochemical
and physiological regulation. In pharmacies, there are more and
more preparations containing curcumin recommended for the
prevention of obesity.
Curcumin
alleviates restraint stress-induced learning and memory deficit
and activity
Behavioral Neuroscience |
January 2022
Several investigations have reported that
curcumin has a protective effect against stress disturbance. The
present study is designed to investigate the effects of curcumin
on learning and memory, activity, biochemical, morphology
changes, and apoptosis in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex
of restraint stress rats. Curcumin inhibited and reversed the
changes of stress induced in the prefrontal cortex and
hippocampus of the rats. These findings provided evidence for
the protective effect of curcumin therapy on biochemical,
morphology, and behavioral changes induced by restraint stress.
Curcumin
improves atherosclerosis by inhibiting the epigenetic repression
of lncRNA MIAT to miR-124
Vascular |
January 2022
Curcumin has protective effect on
atherosclerosis. Curcumin suppressed inflammation in
atherosclerosis mouse model and ox-LDL-induced cell model.
Curcumin relieved ox-LDL-induced cell inflammation. MIAT/miR-124
axis mediated the effect of curcumin on atherosclerosis and
altered cell apoptosis and proliferation, both in vivo and in
vitro. These data further support the application of curcumin in
control of atherosclerosis advancement.
Effect of curcumin supplementation on muscle damage,
antioxidant status and inflammatory factors after successive
simulated taekwondo competitions
Science &
Sports | January 2022
Creatine kinase (CK), lactate
dehydrogenase (LDH) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) increased
significantly after the competition in placebo group compared to
Curcumin supplemented group. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC),
significantly increased in Curcumin supplemented compared to
placebo group after the competition. Based on the results of
this study, Curcumin supplementation has positive effects on
reducing muscle damage and oxidative stress.
Curcumin Induces Immunogenic Cell Death In Murine
Colorectal Carcinoma
Pharmacological
Research | January 2022
Curcumin, a compound found in the
rhizome of Curcuma longa, is known to impair the function in
cancer cells. This event triggers apoptosis in curcumin-treated
cells and can be an important mechanism of the pharmacological
effects attributed to curcumin. The present work suggests that
curcumin is an inducer of immunogenic cell death. This
observation brings more insights into the mechanism of action of
curcumin. It has already been shown that the efficacy of certain
cancer therapies, such as anthracycline-based chemotherapy,
photodynamic therapy, and radiotherapy, also rely on their
ability to reinstate cancer immunosurveillance. Circumventing
the immune evasion strategies deployed by cancers and
reeducating the host immune system to detect and clear tumor
cells can be used as strategies to treat cancer. Thus, the use
of curcumin not only to directly kill cancer cells, but also to
help inducing an immune response against tumor antigens is an
alternative that can be explored in future studies.
Dietary
curcumin restores insulin homeostasis in diet-induced obese aged
mice
Aging | January 2022
Curcumin is a
bioactive polyphenolic compound extracted from the herb
Curcuma longa. Curcumin treatment maintains insulin
homeostasis during aging and dietary challenge that is mediated
by hepatic IDE. It has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and
anti-diabetic properties which should mitigate age-associated
diseases. Curcumin supplementation suppresses body weight
gain and fat accumulation in aged mice. Its basic mechanism of
action as an anti-diabetic therapeutic agent was largely unknown
however we previously demonstrated that curcumin supplementation
increases insulin sensitivity in hepatocytes by upregulating
hepatic IDE expression and preserved islet integrity in a
diet-induced obese (DIO) mouse model. Curcumin changes hepatic
gene expression profiling and supplementation preserves
pancreatic islet integrity in aged mice. Furthermore, we
enumerated various cellular and molecular events in the insulin
signaling pathway regulated by curcumin. Dietary curcumin
alters gene expression associated with insulin signaling and
senescence pathways in the aged mice. In this study, we sought
to determine if curcumin supplementation during a nutrient
stressor known to cause insulin resistance in aged mice might be
beneficial to preserving hepatocytes in an insulin-sensitive
phenotype while protecting β -cells from the need to compensate
for insulin resistance. In summary, our study illustrates that
curcumin supplementation in aged individuals is likely to play a
role in mitigating reduced hepatic insulin sensitivity due to
aging per se and dietary challenges. It seems convincing that
curcumin positively regulates insulin sensitivity in hepatocytes
because of the upregulation of IDE that is reflected in reduced
demand for increased insulin secretion and synthesis. Thus,
curcumin is a potent, natural therapeutic agent which acts in a
multifaceted manner to protect aging-induced metabolic
disorders.
Nrf2-Related
Therapeutic Effects of Curcumin in Different Disorders
Biomolecules | January 2022
Curcumin is a
natural polyphenol with antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-cancer,
and anti-inflammation effects. This substance has been shown to
affect the activity of Nrf2 signaling, a pathway that is
activated in response to stress and decreases levels of reactive
oxygen species and electrophilic substances. Nrf2-related
effects of curcumin have been investigated in different
contexts, including gastrointestinal disorders,
ischemia-reperfusion injury, diabetes mellitus, nervous system
diseases, renal diseases, pulmonary diseases, cardiovascular
diseases as well as cancers. In the current review, we discuss
the Nrf2-mediated therapeutic effects of curcumin in these
conditions. The data reviewed in the current manuscript
indicates curcumin as a potential activator of Nrf2 and a
therapeutic substance for the protection of cells in several
pathological conditions.
Curcumin alters distinct molecular pathways in
breast cancer subtypes
Cancer Reports |
January 2022
Curcumin is well known for its anticancer
properties. Its cytotoxic activity has been documented in
several cancer cell lines, including breast cancer. The
pleiotropic activity of curcumin as an antioxidant, an
antiangiogenic, antiproliferative, and pro-apoptotic, is due to
its diverse targets, such as signaling pathways, protein/enzyme,
or noncoding gene. Curcumin, a polyphenol extracted from
turmeric, is well known for its multifaceted properties like
anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-malarial,
and anticancer. Clinical and preclinical studies have validated
the role of curcumin in varied human chronic diseases, including
cancer. The therapeutic potential of curcumin can be attributed
to its capability to regulate both epigenome and transcriptome.
In conclusion, curcumin regulates miRNA and mRNA in a cell type
specific manner. Curcumin altered different pathways in breast
cancer cell lines such as cell cycle, migration, invasion, and
so forth. The integrative analysis led to the detection of
miRNAs and mRNAs pairs, which can be used as biomarkers,
associated with carcinogenesis, diagnosis and treatment response
in breast cancer.
Curcumin exerts a protective effect against obesity
and liver injury induced by an atherogenic diet
Functional Foods in Health and Disease | January 2022
Background: Curcumin is a natural yellow polyphenol extracted
from the turmeric rhizome (Curcuma longa). Curcumin is
known for its potential therapeutic properties as an analgesic,
anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective,
and anti-mutagenic, although some of these biological activities
remain unproven. Epidemiological studies have shown a positive
relationship between high-fat diets and diet-related chronic
diseases. We hypothesized that some adverse effects of consuming
atherogenic or high-fat diets can be ameliorated by curcumin
supplementation. This study provides supporting evidence to
confirm the beneficial effects of curcumin from the point of
view of functional food science.
Age-related alterations to working memory and to
pyramidal neurons in the prefrontal cortex of rhesus monkeys
begin in early middle-age and are partially ameliorated by
dietary curcumin.
Neurobiology of Aging |
January 2022
Curcumin-treated subjects exhibit better working
memory ability and less neuronal excitability. Middle-aged
subjects given curcumin exhibited better workng memory
performance and less neuronal excitability compared to control
subjects. These findings suggest that the appropriate time frame
for intervention for age-related cognitive changes is early
middle age, and points to the efficacy of curcumin in delaying
working memory decline.
Curcumin inhibits the invasion and metastasis of
triple negative breast cancer
Journal of
Ethnopharmacology | January 2022
Modern pharmacological
studies have found that curcumin has many kinds of
pharmacological activities of anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor,
anti-angiogenesis, anti-metastasis and anti-multidrug
resistance. Curcumin has good anti-inflammatory (Lei et al.,
2014), anti-oxidation (Santosh et al., 2007), and reducing the
levels of ROS(Sethi et al., 2008). It can also inhibit the
activation of multiple pathways such as NF-κB (Cho et al., 2007)
and IL-1α, IL-6 and other gene expression (Momeni and Eskandari,
2017). A recent study showed that curcumin inhibited the
expression of HIF-1 by degrading ARNT in cancer stem-like cells,
thereby improving the hypoxia environment and promoting the
early apoptosis of breast cancer cells (Sarighieh et al.,2020).
Curcumin could significantly reduce cancer proliferation and the
expression level of PLAC8 in MCF-7/TAM cells through proteasome
and PLAC8/MAPK signaling pathways which showed that curcumin
might be a potential adjuvant therapeutic agent for the
treatment of tamoxifen-resistant patients (Mao et al.,2021).
Moreover, curcumin, as the main ingredient of curry, has no
obvious toxic and side effects according to toxicological
studies, so it has great potential in the treatment of breast
cancer (Lewis and Veltmaat, 2004). Our previous study found that
curcumin inhibited the proliferation of breast cancer cells
MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 in vitro and growth of xenograft in vivo.
In this study, we found that Gli1 overexpression in MDA-MB-231
adherent cells could promote cell proliferation, invasion and
migration, which were inhibited after curcumin and GANT61
treatment. Moreover, curcumin inhibited the formation of
mammospheres, and down-regulated the expression of PTCH1,Gli1,
Gli2 in Hh pathway in adherent cells, and the expression of
E-cadherin, vimentin of EMT genes and Gli1,Gli2, SMO of Hh
pathway in MDA-MB-231 mammospheres. In addition, further studies
demonstrated that curcumin could inhibit the entry of Gli1 into
the nucleus. These data suggested curcumin may inhibit invasion
and metastasis of TN breast cancer cells by targeting Gli1.
Curcumin can inhibit the proliferation and metastasis of TN
breast cancercells, EMT and characteristics of breast cancer
stem cells.
Protective Effects of Curcumin in the Reproductive
System
Natural Products and Human Diseases
| January 2022
The well-known antioxidant natural product
curcumin may have properties which could diminish toxic effects.
Curcumin has also shown some promise in the cryoprotection of
sperm samples through its antioxidant potential.
Curcumin supplementation in pediatric patients: A
systematic review of current clinical evidence
Phytotherapy Research | January 2022
Clinical efficacy and
safety of curcumin were assessed in children with inflammatory
and immune disorders (including asthma, inflammatory bowel
disease (IBD), and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)),
metabolic disorders, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney
disease (ADPKD), cystic fibrosis (CF), tetralogy of Fallot
(TOF), and infectious diseases. Curcumin was administered in a
wide range of doses (45 mg–4,000 mg daily) and durations
(2–48 weeks). Overall, curcumin was well tolerated in all
studies and improved the severity of inflammatory and immune
disorders and metabolic diseases. However, more studies are
needed to clarify the role of curcumin supplementation among
children with ADPKD, CF, TOF, and infectious diseases.
Curcumin Relieves Chronic Unpredictable Mild
Stress-Induced Depression-Like Behavior
Behavioral Neurology | January 2022
Curcumin, the major
active component extracted from the Chinese medicine Curcuma
longa, has been reported to possess neuroprotective effects.
Ccurcumin’s potential antidepressant-like effects have been
highlighted in many preclinical trials conducted on rats and
mice models of depression. Curcumin might be effective as
adjunctive treatment in depressive disorders, indicating the
promising efficacy of curcumin depression. More and more studies
have discussed the potential mechanism of curcumin's
antidepressant-like effects. Our previous study found that
curcumin could restore changes in proinflammatory cytokines and
the indolamine-2, 3-dioxygenase- (IDO-) kynurenine pathway in
the hippocampus of CUMS rats, which might ultimately contribute
to its antidepressant-like effect. Another study conducted by
our teammates Liao et al. suggested that the possible
antidepressant-like effects of curcumin are associated with
oxidative stress and with changes in the activation of
erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in the brain. Moreover, Liao
et al. found that curcumin could reverse the decreased
expression of BDNF. Other studies have also indicated curcumin’s
ability to increase BDNF levels. These studies point strongly to
an association between the antidepressant-like effects of
curcumin and the regulation of BDNF levels. Curcumin
successfully attenuated the abnormal behaviors induced by CUMS
and effectively prevented CUMS-induced reduction of PGC-1α,
ERRα, FNDC5, and BDNF expressions. Curcumin also enhanced PGC-1α
and ERRα translocation from cytoplasm to nucleus. Furthermore,
we found that curcumin supplementation effectively promoted
neurocyte proliferation and suppressed neuronal apoptosis
induced by CUMS. Of note, the PGC-1α inhibitor SR18292
remarkably reversed the beneficial effects of curcumin on
depressed rats, indicating an important role of PGC-1α in the
antidepressant-like effects of curcumin. Collectively, our data
evaluating the neuroprotective action of curcumin in the CUMS
rats highlights the involvement of the PGC-1α/FNDC5/BDNF pathway
in the antidepressant-like effects of curcumin.
Role of Curcumin in Retinal Diseases—A review
Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology | January 2022
Curcumin showed its pleiotropic effects in retinal diseases like
diabetic retinopathy by increasing anti-oxidant enzymes,
upregulating HO-1, nrf2 and reducing or inhibiting inflammatory
mediators, growth factors and by inhibiting proliferation and
migration of retinal endothelial cells in a dose-dependent
manner in HRPC, HREC and ARPE-19 cells. In age-related macular
degeneration, curcumin acts by reducing ROS and inhibiting
apoptosis inducing proteins and cellular inflammatory genes and
upregulating HO-1, thioredoxin and NQO1. In retinitis pigmentosa,
curcumin has been shown to delay structural defects of P23H gene
in P23H-rhodopsin transgenic rats. In proliferative
vitreoretinopathy, curcumin inhibited the action of EGF in a
dose- and time-dependent manner. In retinal ischemia reperfusion
injury, curcumin downregulates IL-17, IL-23, NFKB, STAT-3, MCP-1
and JNK. In retinoblastoma, curcumin inhibits proliferation,
migration and apoptosis of RBY79 and SO-RB50. Curcumin has
already proven its efficacy in inhibiting viral replication,
coagulation and cytokine storm in COVID era. Curcumin is a
curcuminoid obtained from turmeric (curcuma longa) that belongs
to the Zingiberaceae family. They belong to the group of
phytocompounds that are biologically active molecules obtained
from plants with positive effects on health. Curcumin is a bis-α,β-unsaturated
β-diketone with the chemical name
1,7-bis-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione and
commonly called diferuloylmethane, E100 (European code of food
additives) or Natural Yellow 3. Its chemical formula is C21H20O6
and molecular weight is 368.38 gm/mol. It has two aromatic ring
systems containing o-methoxy phenolic groups that are linked
with a seven-carbon linker consisting of α, β-unsaturated
β-diketone moiety. It also exists in two tautomeric forms,
keto-enol and diketo tautomers. It is present in keto-enol form
in polar organic solvents, which is the predominant form of
tautomer. Cheng et al. studied the pharmacokinetics, toxicology
and biologically effective dose of curcumin in humans with high
risk or premalignant lesions. An initial dose of 500 mg once a
day in empty stomach in 25 patients and the dose was increased
to 1000, 2000, 4000, 8000 and 12,000 if there was no
toxicity ≥ grade 2 in at least 3 successive patients. No
toxicity was seen in doses up to 8000 mg. Curcumin showed no
toxicity up to 8000 mg when taken for 3 months.
The Effect of Curcumin Differs on Individual
Cognitive Domains across Different Patient Populations: A
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Pharmaceuticals | December 2021
Curcumin is a polyphenol with
strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. It is also
the primary active component of the Indian spice turmeric
(Curcuma longa)and curry powders. Animal studies have also
confirmed that curcumin has protective effects against cognitive
decline, both in aging rhesus monkeys and in a
streptozotocin-induced dementia rat model. Specifically,
curcumin has been found to exhibit various selective effects,
including preventing atrophic change and cell loss in the
prefrontal cortex compared to the hippocampus, decreasing
neuroinflammation compared to promoting neurogenesis, and more
positive effects on working memory than on recognition.
Following at least 8 weeks of nutritional supplementation,
curcumin was found to improve working memory more than a placebo
regimen. The results in the cognitive domain of processing speed
were notable, with a borderline p-value, which may be
significant if further trials are included. The protective
effect of curcumin in the prefrontal cortex has also been
demonstrated in animal models. Noorafshan et al. used three
different neural damage rat models, including stress-induced,
sulfite-induced, and sleep deprivation, and found that curcumin
could prevent structural deterioration in neurons and glial
cells, and could also counteract behavioral changes. This showed
that curcumin had a direct protective effect on the prefrontal
cortex and may explain why curcumin was able to effectively
improve working memory, as observed in our meta-analysis.
Turmeric
Root and Its Bioactive Ingredient Curcumin Effectively
Neutralize SARS-CoV-2 In Vitro
Viruses |
December 2021
Turmeric root, also known as Curcuma longa,
is broadly used as a spice widely cultivated in Southeast Asia.
The rhizome of Curcuma longa contains several
structurally related curcuminoids. Sixty to 75% of the
curcuminoid content consists of curcumin, also known as
diferuloylmethane. The remaining fraction is a combination of
demethoxycurcumin (20–25%) and bisdemethoxycurcumin (5–15%).
Turmeric root has been used for thousands of years as medicine
for the complementary treatment of a wide variety of diseases.
As early as 1815, the bioactive ingredient curcumin was first
isolated from turmeric root by Vogel and Pelletier. Curcumin
reveals a broad spectrum of bioactivities such as antioxidant,
anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, antitumor, and
hepatoprotective activities. In addition to the antiviral
activity, curcumin also exhibits anti-inflammatory effects.
Randomized controlled trials indicated a significant
downregulation of the human tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα)
and interleukin 6 (IL-6) through curcumin supplementation. A
meta-analysis showed that 8–12 weeks of treatment with 1 g
curcumin per day can reduce symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis
such as pain and symptoms related with inflammation. We and
others have demonstrated the antiviral activities of curcumin
against various viruses, including Dengue Virus, Human
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Kaposi Sarcoma-associated
Herpesvirus, Enterovirus, Zika Virus, Chikungunya Virus,
Vesicular Stomatitis Virus, the Human Respiratory Syncytial
Virus, Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus, Influenza A Virus,
Herpes Simplex Type 2, Norovirus, and Hepatitis C Virus.
Furthermore, curcumin is known for its pharmacological abilities
especially as an anti-inflammatory and antiviral agent.
Moreover, curcumin was discussed as a potential candidate in the
therapeutic regimen of COVID-19. Curcumin acts as an antiviral
agent against a variety of viruses, including HIV, HCV,
Influenza A, and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 1
(SARS-CoV-1). Furthermore, curcumin inhibits SARS-CoV-1 and also
inhibits SARS-CoV-2. Curcumin treatment significantly reduced
SARS-CoV-2 RNA levels in cell culture supernatants of Vero E6
cells with an EC50 of ≈14 µg/mL (≈38 µM). We demonstrated that
curcumin efficiently inhibited SARS-CoV-2 infection in both cell
lines, Vero E6, and human Calu-3 lung cells, thereby indicating
a genuine antiviral effect of curcumin against SARS-CoV-2.
Curcumin
Ameliorates the Cd-Induced Anxiety-like Behavior in Mice by
Regulating Oxidative Stress and Neuro-Inflammatory Proteins in
the Prefrontal Cortex Region of the Brain
Antioxidants | February 20
Curcumin is an active component of
turmeric (Curcuma longa) which is widely used as a food
additive in Indian cuisines and Ayurvedic medicines. Previously,
researchers have reported the neuroprotective effect of curcumin
in various neurodegenerative diseases. In our study on dim
light-induced neurodegeneration, we have shown the antioxidant
effects of curcumin. Other researchers have also highlighted the
anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of curcumin. Curcumin
plays an effective role as a natural therapeutic drug to combat
Cd-induced behavioral impairment by regulating oxidative stress
and modulating inflammatory markers. Curcumin was found to
improve the behavior of mice through reduction of prefrontal
cortex oxidative stress and neuroinflammation as well as
promotion of hippocampal neurogenesis. Therefore, curcumin
supplementation in food and diet could reduce the deleterious
effect of heavy metal exposure.
Curcumin mediates presenilin-1 activity to reduce
β-amyloid production in a model of Alzheimer’s disease
Pharmacological Reports | December 2021
Curcumin has been
reported to inhibit the generation of Aβ. Aβ is thought to play
an important role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease.
Curcumin treatment was found to markedly reduce the production
of Aβ40/42. Treatment with curcumin also decreased both PS1 and
GSK-3β mRNA and protein levels in a dose- and time-dependent
manner. Furthermore, curcumin increased the inhibitory
phosphorylation of GSK-3β protein at Ser9. Therefore, we propose
that curcumin decreases Aβ production by inhibiting
GSK-3β-mediated PS1 activation.
Antiviral Therapeutic Potential of Curcumin
Molecules | December 2021
Curcumin
(1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione),
also called diferuloylmethane, is the best example of a plant
derivative with an enormous number of therapeutic properties,
such as anti-oxidant, anti-carcinogenic, anti-diabetic,
anti-microbial, and antiviral activity. In traditional Indian
Ayurvedic medicine, curcumin was widely applied in many
therapeutic remedies. This compound is a natural polyphenolic
substance and an active form of the traditional herb that is
found in the rhizome of Curcuma longa (turmeric).
Curcumin is the main molecule of the curcuminoids; the
curcuminoids are comprised of curcumin (77%) as well as includes
bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC) (17%) and demethoxycurcumin (DMC)
(6%). The first suggestion that curcumin had antiviral
properties came in the 1990s, with the discovery that curcumin
and curcumin boron complexes could inhibit the human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Since then, numerous studies have
found that curcumin has antiviral activity against a diverse set
of viruses, including both RNA and DNA viruses, both enveloped
and non-enveloped. Multiple selected studies were on different
types of human viruses, including human immunodeficiency virus
(nine studies), hepatitis C virus (five studies), human
cytomegalovirus (three studies), hepatitis B virus (four
studies), herpes simplex viruses (four studies), dengue virus
(four studies), enterovirus 71 (two studies), human T lymphocyte
virus (two studies), vesicular stomatitis virus (two studies),
and respiratory syncytial virus (two studies). There was one
study for viruses including zika and chikungunya, coronavirus,
Rift Valley fever virus, human norovirus, coxsackievirus B3,
Japanese encephalitis virus, and viral hemorrhagic septicemia
virus. 27 studies showed that curcumin reduced the
production of infectious particles in various infected cells in
a dose-dependent manner.
Curcumin
supplementation improves biomarkers of oxidative stress and
inflammation in conditions of obesity, type 2 diabetes and
nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
Food & Function | December 2021
A systematic search, through
prominent online databases such as MEDLINE, Scopus, and Google
Scholar was done focusing on randomized controlled trials (RCTs)
reporting on the impact of curcumin supplementation in
individuals with diverse metabolic complications, including
obesity, type 2 diabetes and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
Summarized findings suggest that curcumin supplementation can
significantly reduce blood glucose and triglycerides levels,
including markers of liver function like alanine
aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in
patients with type 2 diabetes and nonalcoholic fatty liver
disease. Importantly, this effect was consistent with the
reduction of predominant markers of oxidative stress and
inflammation, such as the levels of malonaldehyde (MDA), tumor
necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), high sensitivity C-reactive
protein (hs-CRP) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1)
in these patients. RCTs suggest that curcumin is beneficial in
ameliorating some metabolic complications.
Curcumin
as a Possible Treatment for COVID-19-Induced Anosmia and Ageusia
Cureus | December 2021
Curcumin, the main component of the
spice turmeric, is derived from the rhizome of the plant
Curcuma longa. Beneficial effects of curcumin have been
reported over centuries in the treatment of various ailments,
from oncological to autoimmune disorders. Curcumin has been
observed to block pro-inflammatory regulators and signaling
pathways, including inhibiting nuclear factor (NF)-kappa B
activation and suppressing tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α),
interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6), monocyte
chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), prostaglandin E2, and
cyclooxygenase-II, among others. Curcumin has been shown to bind
and block the active site of Mpro, the main protease utilized by
COVID-19 to produce proteins required for viral replication from
viral genomic RNA. Curcumin may also hinder the formation of the
COVID-19 spike protein-ACE2 complex, preventing viral entry into
cells. The anti-inflammatory action of curcumin may reduce nasal
mucosal swelling.
Antioxidant effects of curcumin and neuroaging
Genetics, Neurology, Behavior, and Diet | December 2021
Curcumin, a plant-based polyphenol, is known to scavenge free
radicals and promote antioxidant activity. This chapter gives an
overview of the molecular evidence that curcumin prevents
oxidative stress, cellular senescence, and death. In addition,
curcumin’s role in protection against memory impairment as
evidenced by brain imaging studies is reviewed. There is
preliminary evidence for curcumin improving memory and
decreasing amyloid-β plaque accumulation. Consequently, curcumin
has potential as a therapy in aging and aging-related disorders.
Curcumin
in Metabolic Health and Disease
Nutrients
| December 2021
In recent years, epidemiological studies have
suggested that metabolic disorders are nutritionally dependent.
A healthy diet that is rich in polyphenols may be beneficial in
the treatment of metabolic diseases such as polycystic ovary
syndrome, metabolic syndrome, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease,
cardiovascular disease, and, in particular, atherosclerosis.
Curcumin is a polyphenol found in turmeric and has been reported
to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective,
anti-atherosclerotic, and antidiabetic properties, among others.
Targets of Curcumin against Colorectal Cancer and
the Correlation with Tumor-Infiltrating Immune Cells
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine | December
2021
In recent years, more and more studies have shown that
curcumin has great potential in the treatment of colorectal
cancer. Curcuma longa L., commonly known as turmeric,
is a rhizomatous herb of the ginger (Zingiberaceae)
family. Curcumin is a lipophilic polyphenol compound extracted
from the Zingiberaceae family, which lowers blood glucose and
has anticancer, anti-inflammation, and antiaging effects.
Howells et al. confirmed that curcumin is a safe and
well-tolerated adjuvant chemotherapy drug for folinic
acid/5-fluorouracil/oxaliplatin chemotherapy (FOLFOX)
chemotherapy of metastatic colorectal cancer. In a clinical
trial, curcumin has been proved to promote the transformation of
Treg cells to Th1 cells and enhance the production of
interferon-γ, supporting the antitumor effect of curcumin in
colorectal cancer. The clinical efficacy of curcumin in the
treatment of colorectal cancer has been recognized. Subsequent
in vivo experiments confirmed that curcumin can reduce
inflammation and colorectal cancer formation in mouse models.
These research results showed that curcumin has many potential
effects and has definite therapeutic effects on colorectal
cancer . In conclusion, in this study, we identified the key
targets of curcumin in colorectal cancer inhibition through the
combination of network pharmacology, molecular docking, and
tumor immune microenvironment analysis. The mechanism of action
of curcumin is binding to AKT1, STAT3, and EGFR by hydrogen
bond, hydrophobic effect, and π-cation bond.
The Functional Roles of Curcumin on Astrocytes in
Neurodegenerative Diseases
Neuroimmunomodulation | December 2021
Curcumin is the main
component of a yellow pigment, commonly called
diferuloylmethane, and is an active ingredient in the rhizome of
the herb Curcuma longa that represents various biomedical
applications. Curcumin has also been traditionally used for its
medicinal benefits and wound healing for centuries. However, it
was first applied as a drug to treat biliary disease in 1937.
Curcumin is a lipophilic polyphenol that is relatively stable in
the acidic pH but decomposes in neutral-basic conditions.
Curcumin contains approximately 77% diferuloylmethane, 17%
dimethoxycurcumin, and 6% bisdemethoxycurcumin. Nowadays,
curcumin (C21H20O6) has important roles in the attenuation of
progression of some NDs because of its anti-amyloid and
anti-inflammatory agents. In addition, curcumin also has several
benefits, such as being safe, inexpensive, and readily available
polyphenol that can cross the blood brain barrier, thus
attracting researchers to use it for treating neurodegenerative
diseases. Curcumin is an NF-κB inhibitor by interrupting
ZO-1 expression and localization, MLC phosphorylation, and ROS
generation inhibition, which constrains disruption of the BBB by
Th17 cells. Furthermore, curcumin, through its NF-κB inhibitory
effect, causes intestine dendritic cell differentiation into
tolerogenic phenotypes, as well as naive T cells to
differentiate into FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (intestine
protective, Treg). Thus, curcumin can prevent colitis, due to
its anti-inflammatory function. Curcumin has a critical role in
transcription factor regulation. Furthermore, curcumin can
regulate cytokines, adhesion molecules, protein kinases, redox
status, and inflammation-associated enzymes. The pharmacological
activities of curcumin are antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory,
antioxidant, and anticarcinogenic. It also exhibits potent
immunoregulatory activities that can modulate the T cells, B
cells, neutrophils, natural killer cells, and macrophage
activation and function. Curcumin has been shown to be
protective for several cells, including astrocytes, neurons,
microglia, and different part of the CNS such as hippocampal,
mesencephalic, cortical, and spinal cord. A multiple sclerosis
study showed that curcumin regulates T-cell responses to IL-12
by blocking IL-12 production, and IL-12 signaling, through
inhibiting JAK-STAT signaling activation. Thus, it has been
suggested that curcumin could be used for treating multiple
sclerosis and other Th1-cell-mediated inflammatory diseases.
Furthermore, curcumin at high doses can directly induce T-cell
apoptosis and inhibit T-cell proliferation through blocking of
the IL-2 signaling pathway, high-affinity IL-2R, and interfering
with IL-2R signaling. These data indicate that curcumin has
immunosuppressive effects on many pathways. Thus, curcumin,
through its proinflammatory cytokines, decreases TNF-α/β, IL-1,
IL-6, and IL-8, and COX-2 provides a therapeutic effect by
reducing inflammatory conditions. Curcumin can cross blood brain
barrier and, by inhibiting proinflammatory cytokines, can
regulate homeostasis of the CNS. The blood brain barrier has a
crucial role in controlling the homeostasis of the brain
microenvironment. Thus, because autoreactive T-cell penetration
plays a key role in MS lesion development, the role of curcumin
to protect the blood brain barrier could reduce the severity of
MS. Curcumin also decreases the severity of chronic inflammatory
diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, AD, and cancer.
In phase II clinical trial, curcumin was used orally in a mouse
model of colorectal cancer. It has been demonstrated that
curcumin can prevent carcinogenesis through different mechanisms
such as reduction of cyclooxygenases 1 and 2, 5-lipoxygenase,
prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid
production inhibition. Fortunately, curcumin via inhibition of
NF-κB signaling pathways can improve the effects of some
chemotherapy drugs. For example, in the mouse model of human
breast cancer, curcumin, in conjunction with paclitaxel, can
slow breast cancer progression and metastasis to the lung.
According to Alavez et al., curcumin, through its involvement in
the regulation of protein homeostasis, can increase life span in
several species. Curcumin, as a natural cost-effective product
with proven pharmacological safety, has strong antioxidant and
anti-inflammatory effects through modulating many cellular
signaling pathways, affects numerous molecular targets in
astrocytes, and is a promising candidate for the prevention and
treatment of various neurodegenerative diseases including
Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple scleroses,
and Huntington’s disease.
Effect of curcumin supplement or placebo in delayed
onset muscle soreness: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Bulletin of the National Research Centre | December 2021
Curcumin is a natural polyphenolic substance extracted from
turmeric. It has various physiological effects, such as membrane
protective effects, as well as anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant
responses. These mechanisms have been reported to suppress the
activity of NF‐κB, thereby suppressing the expression of IL-6
and tumor necrotic factor TNF-α. This review suggested that
persons who took curcumin supplement before exercise have pain
score of about 1 score lower than those who took placebo in and
post-exercise at 1, 2, 3 and 4 days. For indirect markers of
muscle damage, the persons who took curcumin supplement before
exercise have lower CK, TNF and IL score than those who took
placebo. From a review of previous meta-analysis (Fang and Nasir
2021), curcumin has efficacy in reducing CK serum levels and
muscle soreness index among adults. Therefore, curcumin may be
known as a priority EIMD recovery agent in interventions.
To conclude, curcumin supplement has reduced muscle soreness and
CK after exercise after 1, 2, 3, and 4 days when compared to
placebo.
Curcumin
and Its Potential Impact on Microbiota
Nutrients | December 2021
Curcumin is a polyphenol substance
isolated from the rhizome of Zingiberaceae and Araceae plants.
It is a major active constituent of turmeric, a common Asian
spice used as a dietary spice, food-coloring, as a herbal
remedy, and in the beverage industries. Its bioactive components
have been investigated recently [1,2]. Diferuloylmethane
(1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione),
which is commonly referred to as curcumin, has been shown to
have activity at the cellular level, by signaling multiple
molecules. In addition it exerts antioxidant and
anti-inflammatory properties. It may have many therapeutic
effects, having exhibited antitumor, chemosensitizing,
hepatoprotective, lipid-modifying, and neuroprotective effects.
Piperine is a natural alkaloid that is found in black pepper
(Piper nigrum), which is capable of increasing the
bioavailability of curcumin by inhibition of
biotransformation—especially glucuronidation—in the liver and
small intestine. As Hewlings and Kalman emphasized in their
work, piperine has been associated with an increase in the
bioavailability of curcumin by 2000%. Polyphenols, such as
curcuminoids, are naturally occurring bioactive compounds that,
due to their antioxidant abilities, play important roles in
human nutrition. A substantial amount of promising evidence has
indicated that curcumin may be capable of preventing and
combating several metabolic syndromes, cancer, and obesity, and
may even play a neuroprotective role. The metabolism of
curcumin, which occurs in the intestine, enhances its biological
activity and, as a consequence, biotransforms it into active
metabolites, which may promote beneficial effects in the gut
microbiota.
Curcumin as a great contributor for the treatment
and mitigation of colorectal cancer
Experimental Gerontology | December 2021
This review mainly
brings out the correlation between the curcumin and its use for
the mitigation of colorectal cancer, the use of curcumin as a
chemotherapeutic agent, chemosensitizer, and in a combination
and synergistic approach. The pharmacokinetics and
pharmacodynamics properties of curcumin and its formulation
approach helps in giving an idea to develop new approaches for
the treatment of colorectal cancer using curcumin.
Protective effect of the association of curcumin
with piperine on prostatic lesions
Food and
Chemical Toxicology | December 2021
Curcumin plus piperine
reduce malignant effects of BPA in prostate. Inflammation provoked to BPA in the prostate was
minimized by curcumin and piperine. Curcumin and piperine helped
to minimize carcinogenesis. Thus, these phytochemicals minimize
the deleterious action of BPA in prostatic lobes, especially
when administered in association. The protective action of
curcumin and piperine consumption is associated with weight
loss, anti-inflammatory potential, and control of prostate
epithelial cell homeostasis.
The effect of Curcumin on multi-level immune
checkpoint blockade and T cell dysfunction in head and neck
cancer
Phytomedicine | December 2021
This study evaluated the immune-modulating effects of Curcumin,
which has well-established anti-cancer and chemopreventive
properties, and its long-term safety as a phytochemical drug. We
found that Curcumin decreased the expression of IC ligands such
as PD-L1, PD-L2, and Galectin-9 in HNSCC, leading to regulation
of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition-associated tumor
invasion. Curcumin also effectively restored the ability of CD8+
cytotoxic T cells to lyse cancer cells. To evaluate the effect
of Curcumin on the TME further, the 4-NQO oral cancer model was
used. Curcumin increased T-cell proliferation,
tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), and effector cytokines,
and decreased the expression of PD-1, TIM-3, suppressive IC
receptors and their ligands (PD-L1, PD-L2, and Galectin-9) in
the TME, implying reinvigoration of the exhausted CD8+ T cells.
In addition, Curcumin inhibited expression of CD4+CD25+FoxP3+
Treg cells as well as PD-1 and TIM-3. These results show that
Curcumin reinvigorates defective T cells via multiple (PD-1 and
TIM-3) and multi-level (IC receptors and its ligands) IC axis
suppression, thus providing a rationale to combine Curcumin with
conventional targeted therapy or ICB as a multi-faceted approach
for treating patients with HNSCC.
The efficacy of high and low dose curcumin in knee
osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Complementary Therapies in Medicine | December 2021
Curcuminoids have been shown to possess multiple pharmacological
effects, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative,
anti-hyperlipidaemic, and anti-platelet effects, and also to
relieve pain and reduce swelling. These properties can be
attributed to curcumin acting as an inhibitor of the nuclear
factor-kappa β (NF-κβ) pathway and a scavenger of reactive
oxygen and nitrogen species. Curcuminoids are employed as
adjunctive treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, degenerative
neural disease, some cancers, and polycystic ovary disease.
Recent randomized controlled trials) have revealed that curcumin
has similar effects on pain relief and fewer gastrointestinal
AEs than NSAIDs, such as diclofenac and ibuprofen. Moreover, Ali Mobasheri et al. reported that “curcumin synergistically
potentiates the growth-inhibitory and pro-apoptotic effects of
the NSAID in OA-derived synovial adherent cells”, suggesting
that combination treatment with curcumin and an NSAID may lower
the NSAID dosage needed and reduce its side effects.
Additionally, a recent study by Shep et al. reported less rescue
medication use and fewer AEs in patients taking combined
curcuminoid and diclofenac than in those taking diclofenac
alone. Previous meta-analyses have shown that curcuminoids have
beneficial effects on knee OA. Low- and high-dose curcuminoids
have similar pain relief effects and adverse events in knee OA.
Curcuminoids are associated with better pain relief than
non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs.
Effects of curcumin supplementation on inflammatory
biomarkers in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Ulcerative
colitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Complementary Therapies in Medicine | December 2021
Curcumin
is the active ingredient of turmeric which its anti‐inflammatory
and antioxidant properties have been studied in patients with
cardiovascular diseases and cancers.22, 23, 24 Some studies
indicated that curcumin decreased inflammatory markers, such as
(Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate) ESR and C-Reactive Protein
(CRP), in patients with ADs,25,26 but other studies failed to
find such associations.27 Inconsistent findings were also
reported for the effects of curcumin supplementation on serum
levels of interleukins and tumor necrosis factor-α.28,29 For
instance, curcumin supplementation in doses of 2000 mg/day over
12 weeks was associated with a significant reduction in serum
IL-22 concentrations in comparison with placebo administration
but had no significant influence on IL-17 concentrations in a
randomized clinical trial (RCT).28 In addition, in another
study, curcumin caused a significant reduction in hs-CRP and ESR
levels but had no significant influence on TNF-α levels.29 In
2014, a meta‐analysis of 19 RCTs found that turmeric and
curcumin/curcuminoids supplementation had no significant effect
on serum levels of inflammatory markers in patients with chronic
inflammatory diseases.30 However, it should be noted that the
combined effect of curcumin with turmeric was investigated in
that meta-analysis and the exclusive influence of curcumin on
outcomes of interest was unclear. Curcumin supplements in doses
of 250−1500 mg/day over 8–12 weeks was associated with decreases
in ESR in adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis and
ulcerative colitis in comparison with the control group.
Curcumin supplements in doses of 250−1500 mg/day over 8–12 weeks
was associated with decreases in CRP in adult patients with
rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis in comparison with
the control group. All subgroup analyses showed significant
changes in ESR and CRP although curcumin supplements in doses of
250−1500 mg/day over 8–12 weeks was more associated with
decreases in ESR and CRP in younger patients (≤40 years) with
rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis in comparison with
the control group. Furthermore, more duration (> 8 weeks) and
more dosage of curcumin (more than 500 mg) is more related to
reduction in ESR and CRP in adult patients with rheumatoid
arthritis and ulcerative colitis in comparison with the control
group.
Curcumin prevents arsenic-induced carcinogenesis
Chinese Medical Journal | December 2021
Curcumin, an acidic
polyphenol compound has anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor
effects. This natural chemopreventive agent, derived from
rhizomes of curcuma species, provides antioxidant, anti-tumor,
and anti-proliferative efficacy. Curcumin blocks cancer
development by modulating multiple signaling pathways.
Researchers have previously provided novel perceptions about the
mechanisms of curcumin action in gastric cancer cell growth
inhibition and its therapeutic strategies for gastric cancer
control. Therefore, curcumin could be considered a novel
therapeutic strategy to control gastric cancer cell growth. Some
studies have emphasized the importance of curcumin in lung
cancer treatment and the potential utility of curcumin as a
method for improving therapeutic outcome. Curcumin suppressed
gemcitabine-resistant non-small cell lung cancer cell
proliferation and induced apoptosis. Curcumin upregulated the
expression of lncRNA-MEG3 and PTEN. Previous studies have also
showed that curcumin has potential clinical application in
gemcitabine-resistant non-small cell lung cancer treatment for
its anti-tumor activity. Furthermore, curcumin also showed
anti-inflammatory activity in the kidney. Another study
identified curcumin as a common inhibitor of NLRP3 inflammasome
activation and revealed that curcumin repressed inflammation. In
view of the various advantages and characteristics of curcumin,
its anti-tumor effect has attracted the attention of
researchers, and has good application prospect in the prevention
and treatment of lung cancer. Curcumin, a major yellow pigment
and spice in turmeric and curry, is a powerful anti-cancer
agent. The anti-tumor activities of curcumin include inhibition
of tumor proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis,
induction of tumor apoptosis, increase in chemotherapeutic
sensitivity, and regulation of cell cycle and cancer stem cells,
indicating that curcumin has strong therapeutic potential in
modulating the progression of various cancers. Numerous studies
have provided evidence that curcumin protects against
neurotoxicity, genotoxicity, and DNA damage in vivo and in
vitro. To date, more than 100 clinical trials have been
completed with curcumin, all of which have demonstrated its
safety, tolerability, and effectiveness against various chronic
diseases, including various cancers, diabetes, obesity, and
cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological, and autoimmune diseases
in humans. Curcumin may represent a useful supplement to improve
chronic inflammation and prevent carcinogenic changes in
patients. These studies have indicated that curcumin is a
promising molecule for the prevention and treatment of cancer.
In summary, in the first stage of As3+-induced carcinogenesis,
curcumin activates Nrf2, decreases ROS, and induces autophagy in
normal cells to prevent As3+-induced cell transformation. In the
second stage, curcumin inhibits constitutive expression of Nrf2
and promotion of ROS, apoptosis, and inhibition of angiogenesis
in AsT cells to prevent tumorigenesis. Our results suggest that
antioxidant natural compounds such as curcumin should be
evaluated further as potential candidates for complementary
therapy for As3+-induced carcinogenesis.
Improvement
of intestinal barrier function, gut microbiota, and metabolic
endotoxemia in type 2 diabetes rats by curcumin
Bioengineered | November 2021
Curcumin is a natural
polyphenol compound extracted from Curcuma tuber and Curcuma
rhizome. It is believed to possess the ability of anti-tumor,
anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-fibrosis effects.
Studies have shown that curcumin could inhibit nuclear factor-κB
(NF-κB) mediated interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis
factor α (TNF-α) release in db/db diabetic mice, and further
reduce the inflammatory reaction of mouse liver. In obese rats
fed with high fat diet and obese mice with leptin gene
deficiency, curcumin can inhibit the secretion of TNF and
monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), improve inflammatory
response, and reduce the levels of blood glucose and
glycosylated hemoglobin. Clinical trials indicated that oral
curcumin can improve the function of islet B cells in
prediabetic patients, reduce insulin resistance, prevent
progression to type 2 diabetes. Therefore, curcumin has good
clinical application prospects. In this study, we demonstrated
that curcumin could improve the intestinal integrity in the type
2 diabetes animal model, and promoted the expression of ZO-1 and
occludin. In addition, the hyperglycemia and insulin resistance
of type 2 diabetes rats were relieved by curcumin. The
suppressive effect of curcumin on TLR4/NF-κB was also observed.
Curcumin also improve the gut microbiota dysbiosis in type 2
diabetes Some studies have indicated the protective role of
curcumin in intestinal barrier of diabetes. Their conclusions
that curcumin could improve the intestinal barrier function are
in line with our study. In this study, we found that the
significant increase of LPS caused by HFD could be remarkably
reduced by curcumin. We demonstrated that curcumin could improve
the intestinal barrier function, gut microbiota, and metabolic
endotoxemia in type 2 diabetes rats. Therefore, curcumin might
be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of type 2
diabetes.
Neuroprotective Effects of Curcumin in
Methamphetamine-Induced Toxicity
Molecules
| November 2021
Curcumin, a natural polyphenol
extracted from rhizome of the Curcuma longa L, has received
great attention for its multiple potential health benefits as
well as disease prevention. For instance, curcumin protects
against toxic agents acting on the human body, including the
nervous system. In detail, curcumin possesses, among others,
strong effects as an autophagy activator. The present data
provide evidence that curcumin counteracts the neurotoxic
effects induced by methamphetamine by promoting autophagy.
In recent years, curcumin has received great attention for its
multiple potential health benefits as well as disease
prevention. Curcumin has been explored for its multiple
biological activities mostly focusing on autophagy activation,
which is considered to be relevant to counteract various
toxicants and disease conditions.
Curcumin Inhibits In Vitro SARS-CoV-2 Infection In Vero
E6 Cells through Multiple Antiviral Mechanisms
Molecules | November 2021
Curcumin, the main polyphenolic
compound of turmeric, has attracted significant attention owing
to its biological effects, such as anti- tumor,
anti-inflammatory, immunomodulating, antioxidant, antimicrobial,
and antiviral activities; therefore, it has been proposed that
curcumin may be a potential treatment against COVID-19. Notably,
it has been observed that the consumption of curcuminoids
leads to a significant reduction in circulating levels of
C-reactive protein and decreases the expression of
proinflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and
TNF-α, demonstrating its anti-inflammatory capacity; it is
important to highlight that this cytokines has been correlated
with severe illness. Moreover, in macrophages, it has been
observed that curcumin inhibits NLR family pyrin domain
containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation, which plays a
significant role in the development of inflammatory diseases.
Additionally, curcumin exhibits its inhibitory activity against
the replication of diverse viruses, such as dengue virus,
hepatitis B virus, zika virus, influenza A virus, and chikungunya virus. Curcumin can exert antiviral effects directly on
the viral particle or at different stages of the replicative
cycle by interacting with viral proteins or by modulating
cellular processes or pathways crucial for viral replication.
Specifically for SARS-CoV-2, studies in silico (computer
modeling) have reported that curcumin exhibits favorable
binding affinities with the spike protein of the virus, as well
as with its main cellular receptor, ACE2. These results suggest
that curcumin has the ability to interfere with the entry of the
virus into the cell. Furthermore, it has been reported that
curcumin can affect the expression of other key molecules in the
entry and decay of the virus, such as TMPRS22, Cat B, and L. The
cumulative evidence suggests that curcumin could be an effective
treatment strategy to complement the COVID-19 clinical
management. Further, it has been persistently reported that
curcumin has anti-inflammatory effects on in vivo models, such
as atherosclerosis, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, or
arthritis. These studies demonstrated that curcumin blocks
inflammation in parts by preventing the activation of
macrophages and lymphocytes and inhibiting the production of
pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. In this sense, it has
been shown that despite the low bioavailability of curcumin, in
two models of chronic disease, this compound has
anti-inflammatory effects at low doses, via IL-10 production.
Moreover, the ability of curcumin to alter the inflammatory
state through the modulation of its regulatory elements can
prevent the onset of the cytokine storm. Evidence presented in this
article suggests that curcumin represents a promising compound
for developing therapy against SARS-CoV2. In this study,
curcumin showed high cytotoxicity at 20 µg/mL in Vero E6 cells. In conclusion,
curcumin showed in vitro antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2,
with different treatment strategies, which suggest the
inhibition at different stages of the replicative cycle;
furthermore, these effects seem to be independent of the virus
strain/variant. This antiviral effect, together with the
observed immunomodulatory properties, suggests that curcumin
could be a promising compound for the treatment of COVID-19
patients.
Effects of Curcumin on Aging: Molecular Mechanisms
and Experimental Evidence
BioMed Research
International | November 2021
Several lines of evidence
highlighted a pleiotropic potential of curcumin towards several
human diseases, such as malignancies, skin and immune-related
disorders, cardiovascular diseases, pulmonary and renal
fibrosis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), fatigue,
neuropathic pain, bone and muscle loss, neurodegenerative
disease, ocular diseases, leprosy, osteoporosis, leishmaniosis,
and HIV infection. Curcumin supplementation in human melanoma
cells induces growth arrest and then apoptosis. Other studies
also reported that curcumin may target oncogene expression,
angiogenesis, invasion, and metastatic dissemination. Alongside
with antitumorigenic activity, curcumin was also shown to induce
antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiglycemic, antiseptic, and
analgesic effects. With regard to inflammation, curcumin
stimulates a xenobiotic response with upregulation of defense
genes and suppression of proinflammatory transcription factors
and cytokines. Moreover, several studies indicated that curcumin
and may be used as senolytic and anti-inflammatory agents for
senescent cells. As reported by Banji et al.,
curcumin(40 mg/kg) and piperine (12 mg/kg), especially when
combined, counteract D-gal-induced senescence in male Wistar
rats by targeting OS and lipofuscin deposition, finally leading
to higher hippocampal volume and function with improved spatial
memory. Aging and senescence are complex processes
leading to organ dysfunction. Despite being permanent, delaying
the occurrence of these processes is a reliable target, and
curcumin might be a promising candidate for this purpose.
Nevertheless, evidence from clinical studies on the long-term
effects of curcumin on age-related pathological events remains
largely understudied. While several strategies to enhance the
systemic bioavailability of curcumin have been suggested, the
effects of long-term therapy with such bioavailability-boosted
curcumin preparations is not fully known, and increased
concentrations may even lead to opposite results. Pleiotropic
benefits of curcumin supplementation involve the control of
aging genes, OS, and inflammation in both the vascular system
and the central nervous system. Further studies are warranted to
clarify the mechanisms of curcumin function for potential
clinical application.
Therapeutic Potential of Curcumin on the Cognitive Decline
in Alzheimer’s Disease
Research Square |
November 2021
Curcumin, a polyphenol derived from the herb
turmeric, has emerged as a promising potential therapy in the
management of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). A meta-analysis of 29
publications showed that curcumin exerts significantly positive
effects on cognitive performance. Our findings suggested that
curcumin may reduce cognitive deficits in AD through
multi-target and multi-pathway mechanism, providing a scientific
basis for further experimental and clinical application.
Is Curcumin the Answer to Future Chemotherapy
Cocktail?
Molecules | November 2021
Curcumin, also regarded as diferuloylmethane, is a yellow
polyphenol extracted from the rhizome of the Curcuma longa
(turmeric) plant, belonging to the Zingiberaceae
family. Indigenous in south-eastern and southern tropical Asia,
curcumin is traditionally applied for pain-relieving and wound
healing effects. Commercial curcumin products contain
approximately 77 % curcumin, 18 % demethoxycurcumin and 5 %
bisdemethoxycurcumin. Out of those curcuminoids, curcumin
exhibits the most potent medicinal properties as compared to
demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin. A growing body of
evidence has demonstrated the benefits of curcumin in treating
various diseases, including metabolic syndromes, hyperlipidaemia,
inflammatory skin conditions, neurodegeneration and rheumatoid
arthritis. These clinical benefits are attributed to the
anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and wound healing activities of
curcumin. Moreover, curcumin can impede pathogenic infections by
exerting a broad spectrum of anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and
anti-viral activities. Alongside profound medicinal properties,
curcumin is listed as a “generally recognized as safe (GRAS)”
compound by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), supporting
its safety and tolerability when consumed by patients. Enormous
attention has given to the exploration of anticancer properties
in curcumin. To date, curcumin has shown its anticancer benefits
in numerous cancers such as breast cancer, colorectal cancer,
lung cancer, pancreatic cancer and prostate cancer. In fact,
these anticancer effects depicted by curcumin are highly
associated with the modulation of several oncogenic signalling
pathways, which are essential in cancer development. Curcumin
constrains these oncogenic signalling pathways and further
limits the downstream pro-tumorigenic activities. In vitro
studies illustrated that curcumin treatment limited the
proliferation and caused cell cycle arrest in HT-29 colon cancer
cells and PLC/PRF/5 liver cancer cells via the inhibition of
cyclin D1, with the downregulation of NF-κB and cyclooxygenase-2
(COX-2) signalling. Concurrent with the upregulation of tumor
suppressor gene p53, curcumin repressed the proliferative
potential of cancer cells via the downregulation of
PI3K/Akt/mTOR signalling. Furthermore, it also impedes cancer
cells’ survival and suppresses their metastatic ability through
the downregulation of EGFR pathways and inhibition of MMP
activities. Apart from limiting the expression of IAP family
proteins, curcumin promotes the apoptosis of cancer cells by
increasing the expression of Bax while downregulating the
expression of Bcl-2 in various cancer cells. It has also been
shown to be able to abrogate angiogenesis elicited by breast
tumors via the suppression of VEGF. Lately, curcumin has gained
a great deal of interest, attributed to its broad range of
medicinal properties. Intriguingly, curcumin exhibited countless
anticancer properties, such as limiting cancer cell
proliferation, promoting tumor cell death and preventing
metastasis. Besides, curcumin supplementation greatly relieves
the patients from experiencing adverse effects caused by
conventional therapies. Hence, these properties pose great
advantages to the development of curcumin combination therapy
for cancer treatment. This review focuses on the use of curcumin
in combination therapy in various cancers. The evasive
mechanisms developed by cancer cells in response to cancer
therapy are discussed. Curcumin combination therapies used are
reviewed in depth in each type of cancer in both preclinical and
clinical studies. We also addressed how curcumin modulates a
variety of molecular targets in cancer cells in the combination
treatment, to provide an insight into the multitargeting effects
of such treatment cocktails.
Curcumin inhibits ovarian cancer progression
Journal of Ovarian Research | November 2021
Curcumin is the
active component of turmeric which has an anti-cancerous
property in multiple cancers, including ovarian cancer. It can
exhibit the anti-cancer role in ovarian cancer by decreasing
tumorigenesis and increasing the efficiency of
radio-chemotherapy. Curcumin suppressed ovarian cancer cell
proliferation and promoted apoptosis. Circ-PLEKHM3 was
downregulated in ovarian cancer, and its expression could be
promoted by curcumin treatment. Circ-PLEKHM3 overexpression
exacerbated the effect of curcumin on ovarian cancer cell
proliferation and apoptosis, as well as anti-tumor effect.
MiR-320a was targeted by circ-PLEKHM3. The inhibition effect of
circ-PLEKHM3 overexpression on cell proliferation and the
enhancing effect on cell apoptosis could be reversed by miR-320a
mimic. SMG1 was targeted by miR-320a, and its knockdown also
reversed the regulation of miR-320a inhibitor on the
proliferation and apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells. In
addition, circ-PLEKHM3 could upregulate SMG1 expression via
sponging miR-320a.
Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Curcumin in the
Inflammatory Diseases
Drug Design,
Development and Therapy | November 2021
Curcumin is a natural
compound with great potential for disease treatment. A large
number of studies have proved that curcumin has a variety of
biological activities, among which anti-inflammatory effect is a
significant feature of it. The anti-inflammatory effect of
curcumin can effectively improve the symptoms of these diseases
and is expected to be a candidate drug for the treatment of
related diseases. Curcumin has anti-inflammatory,
anti-oxidant, anti-tumor and other biological activities. The
anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin are considered to be
the basis of its various biological activities and play an
important role in the treatment of diseases. Curcumin is mainly
derived from the root tuber of Curcuma aromatica Salisb and the
rhizome of C. longa L. (Turmeric) of Zingiberaceae.
Turmeric is a common spice in India and has been described in
Ayurveda, as a treatment for inflammatory diseases. In western
herbalism, turmeric is primarily used as an anti-inflammatory
agent.3 Curcumin and curcuminoids, the active components of
turmeric, are found as effective therapies over the years.
Curcumin, demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin, these
three compounds are called curcuminoids. In addition,
curcumin-containing dietary supplements are extremely popular,
and there are many anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory curcumin
dietary supplements on the market. The significant
anti-inflammatory activity of curcumin has attracted a lot of
researchers’ interests and is considered to be one of the
natural compounds with the greatest potential in the treatment
of diseases. Current evidences suggest that curcumin is
effective in reducing levels of inflammatory mediators, and that
curcumin’s anti-inflammatory properties may have a beneficial
effect on these diseases. In conclusion, curcumin has good
anti-inflammatory properties, and curcumin regulates NF-κB,
MAPK, AP-1, JAK/STAT and other signaling pathways, and
inhibiting the production of inflammatory mediators. Curcumin in
the treatment of IBD, arthritis, psoriasis, depression and
atherosclerosis and other diseases, can reduce inflammatory
response, effectively improve symptoms, play a role in the
treatment of diseases. Now, the pharmacokinetics and
anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin have been improved to some
extent by the structural modification and modification of
curcumin, preparation research and drug combination therapy.
Among them, curcumin dietary supplement or adjuvant drug has
significant therapeutic effect, which is the most feasible way
for curcumin application at present.
Oral Curcumin With Piperine as Adjuvant Therapy for the
Treatment of COVID-19
Frontiers in
Pharmacology | November 2021
Patients with mild, moderate, and
severe symptoms who received curcumin/piperine treatment showed
early symptomatic recovery (fever, cough, sore throat, and
breathlessness), less deterioration, fewer red flag signs,
better ability to maintain oxygen saturation above 94% on room
air, and better clinical outcomes compared to patients of the
control group. Patients received curcumin-piperine capsules
(three capsules/day; each capsules containing 500 mg curcumin
plus 5 mg piperine; in total 1500 mg curcumin and 15 mg
piperine/daily). Furthermore, curcumin/piperine treatment
appeared to reduce the duration of hospitalization in patients
with moderate to severe symptoms, and fewer deaths were observed
in the curcumin/piperine treatment group. Administration
of oral curcumin with piperine as an adjuvant symptomatic
therapy in COVID-19 treatment could substantially reduce
morbidity and mortality, and ease the logistical and
supply-related burdens on the healthcare system. Curcumin could
be a safe and natural therapeutic option to prevent Post-Covid
thromboembolic events. Orally administered curcumin with
piperine could play a multifaceted role in the treatment of
COVID-19. The anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombotic properties
of curcumin could expedite the recovery of COVID-19 patients,
and its antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties
could prevent superadded or secondary infections. Our results
suggest that the use of orally administered curcumin with
piperine as adjuvant therapy in COVID-19 treatment could
substantially reduce morbidity and mortality, reduces treatment
costs, and decrease logistical burden healthcare systems.
Dose-escalating studies have indicated the safety of curcumin
over 3 months. Hence, Curcumin can be a safe and natural
therapeutic option to prevent Post-Covid thromboembolic events.
Curcumin induces apoptosis through caspase dependent
pathway in human colon carcinoma cells
Molecular Biology Reports | November 2021
We investigated the
apoptotic effects of curcumin in the colon carcinoma cell line
SW480. The proportion of BrdU-stained cells in the control
groups were 58%, 57% and 61% and 28%, 27%, and 30% in the
curcumin treatment groups at 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively. The
proportion of apoptotic cells was 28%, 29%, and 28% in the
control groups and 59%, 61%, and 60% in the curcumin treatment
groups at 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively. As expected, caspase-3
staining also revealed a higher number of apoptotic cells in
curcumin treatment groups at 24, 48, and 72 h compared to
controls. These results suggest that curcumin may be a potential
protective or treatment agent against colon cancer.
The emerging role of curcumin for improving vascular
dysfunction
Critical Reviews in Food
Science and Nutrition | November 2021
Clinical intervention
studies with curcumin have demonstrated significant improvements
in endothelial function, arterial compliance, arterial
stiffness, and other measures of vascular hemodynamics in young,
middle-aged, old, post-menopausal, healthy, diabetic, and obese
individuals. Mechanistically, curcumin is believed to improve
vascular function through its effects on inflammation, oxidative
stress, nitric oxide bioavailability, and structural proteins of
the artery. Current data give support for curcumin to be
administered for improvements in vascular health to individuals
that may or may not be at risk for cardiovascular disease. This
review briefly summarizes the techniques used for the
establishment of vascular health and overviews the literature
investigating the role of curcumin in the improvement of
vascular health.
Curcumin enhances drug sensitivity of
gemcitabine-resistant lung cancer cells and inhibits metastasis
Pharmazie International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences |
November 2021
This study aimed to investigate the effects of
curcumin on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of
gemcitabine (GEM) resistant lung cancer A549 cells (A549/GEM),
and the potential mechanism. Curcumin and GEM can improve
the sensitivity of A549/GEM to the GEM. Compared with the GEM,
GEM plus curcumin significantly decreased the migration and
invasion of A549/GEM cells. The expression levels of MMP9 ,
Vimentin, and N-cadherin were significantly decreased, while the
E-cadherin expression was increased. In vivo experiments showed
a better therapeutic effect of GEM combined with curcumin than
that of GEM alone, and the combination therapy did not cause
more toxicity to animals. In summary, curcumin reversed GEM
resistance and inhibited the EMT process in A549/GEM cells. GEM,
combined with curcumin, is safe and more effective in the
treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.
Anti‑inflammatory role of curcumin in retinal
disorders
Experimental and Therapeutic
Medicine | November 2021
Curcumin belongs to the group of
phytocompounds, which can be defined as biologically active
molecules produced by plants with positive effects on health. In
1815, more than 140 years ago, Vogel isolated it from the
Curcuma longa rhizomes, a traditional perennial plant
belonging to the Zingiberaceae family. Later, in 1913, Lampe
synthesized this molecule. Owing to its anti-inflammatory,
antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-angiogenesis, antimutagenic and
neuroprotection properties, curcumin is considered to be a
nutraceutical substance for the treatment of several chronic
diseases such as diabetes, atherosclerosis, rheumatism,
infectious and oncological diseases (brain, lung, breast and
colon cancer). The most promising feature of curcumin is its
anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity. Curcumin's
anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties are mainly related
to its hydroxyl and methoxy groups. Curcumin leads to
deregulation of TNF-α and proinflammatory interleukins owing to
its ability to down regulate the Janus kinase/signal transducer
and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway.
Bioavailability enhancers have been considered encouraging: This
definition refers to compounds which improve substance
availability. In the case of curcumin, there has been a great
interest in piperine owing to its ability to decrease curcumin
hepatic and intestinal glucuronidation with consequent
augmentation of curcumin bioavailability. This pharmacological
effect was demonstrated by comparing serum curcumin
concentration when given alone versus administration together
with piperine. In this last case, curcumin blood levels
presented a significant increase. Curcumin, the main
polyphenolic compound of the food flavoring turmeric, has gained
significant interest due to its biological anti-tumoral,
antioxidant, immune-modulating, anti-inflammatory, antiparasitic
and antiviral properties. For this reason, it has been
extensively studied in different fields of medicine, in general,
and particularly, in ophthalmology, where inflammatory cytokines
are involved in the development of many ocular diseases, such as
conjunctivitis, keratitis, uveitis, glaucoma, age-related
macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. Since a wide
range of beneficial properties have been identified at different
levels, it is important to emphasize that curcumin is included
in the food and drug category ‘generally regarded as safe’. In
the light of this, curcumin can be also considered a promising
and alternative option in several retinal diseases.
Effects of Curcumin Supplementation on Inflammatory
Markers, Muscle Damage, and Sports Performance during Acute
Physical Exercise in Sedentary Individuals
Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity | November 2021
Nutritional supplements with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory
properties have represented an alternative for such purposes.
Among the alternatives, curcumin stands out, being the main
polyphenol of Curcuma longa L. The Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) of the United States has listed curcumin as
“Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS), and supplements
containing curcumin have been approved for human consumption. A
recent review has shown that curcumin has various biological
activities, thanks to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory
properties, which could be cardioprotective, immune-regulating,
antineoplastic, and hepatoprotective effects, in addition to
positive effects on diabetes and the nervous system. Moreover,
it has shown positive effects on exercise practitioners and
athletes. A clinical trial with individuals of both sexes has
shown that, after eccentric exercise, supplementation with
curcumin (500 mg) significantly reduced EIMD and CK
concentrations, leading to better recovery after exercise.
Another study has also shown that curcumin significantly
decreased CK levels and muscle pain in men undergoing muscle
damage protocol. The study by Sahin et al.] showed that curcumin
prevented muscle damage and improved performance in animals by
regulating the pathways of NF-κB and nuclear factor derived from
erythroid 2-like 2. Curcumin supplementation has been shown to
improve sports performance, providing less EIMD and reducing
fatigue by decreasing CK activity. In addition, curcumin exerts
an anti-inflammatory effect by modulating proinflammatory
cytokines. Curcumin supplementation is safe and probably
represents beneficial sport potential, demonstrating
effectiveness before and/or after acute physical exercise in
sedentary individuals.
Curcumin: A Possible Treatment for Coronavirus
Infection
International Academic & Research Journal of Pharmacy | November
2021
Curcumin is recognized as medicinal herb in Chinese and
Indian medicine traditionally, where it is used to treat
different diseased condition like depression, liver disorders,
dermatological ailments, skin disorders. The use of curcumin
does not have any toxic effect and the FDA recognized it as
“Generally Recognized As Safe.” An antiviral activity of
curcumin was detected against several different viruses like
hepatitis viruses, influenza viruses and Zika virus (ZIKV) or
chikungunya virus (CHIKV). Moreover, it has also been
demonstrated that curcumin inhibits human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV), herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) and human papillomavirus
(HPV) also. Curcumin is used to treat vomiting from ancient
times in Asian countries. Curcumin with the dose of 20 mg/kg,
intragastric, 3 days improved appetite of rats in chemotherapy
induced by fluorouracil (5‐FU). Therefore, it may be effective
to treat certain symptoms in COVID‐19 patient. Anti‐inflammatory
effects of curcumin in animal and human studies were reported
previous. Also, in an in vitro study, curcumin with dose of 100
mg/kg, i.p. has an antipyretic effect in rats. Curcumin can be
used to mitigate headache and other related symptoms in Covid-19
patients. Curcumin is reported to have antioxidant properties.
Curcumin with dose of 1 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg increased the antioxidant
enzyme profiling. Curcumin with administration of 200 mg/kg
reduced oxidative stress. The use of curcumin might be effective
to treat COVID‐19.
Curcumin and Piperine in COVID-19: A Promising Duo
to the Rescue?
Biomarkers, New Treatments,
and Vaccines for COVID-19 | October 2021
The
combination of curcumin and piperine is a potential option for
the management of COVID-19 based on several mechanisms including
antiviral, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antifibrotic,
and antioxidant effects. Here, we describe the probable
mechanism of curcumin-piperine against COVID-19. Administration
of curcumin-piperine combination appears as a potential strategy
to counterbalance the pathophysiological features of COVID-19
including inflammation.
Curcumin for Parkinson's disease
Cellular
and Molecular Biology | October 2021
Parkinson's disease (PD)
is one of the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders
worldwide. Curcumin represents a promising bioactive compound
with high therapeutic potential. Diverse studies in cellular and
animal models have suggested that curcumin could be employed for
the treatment of PD.
Current clinical developments in curcumin-based therapeutics for
cancer and chronic diseases
Phytotherapy
Research | October 2021
Curcumin, a natural compound
extracted from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa, has been under
intense scrutiny for its wide medicinal and biological
properties. Curcumin is known to manifest antibacterial,
antiinflammatory, antioxidant, antifungal, antineoplastic,
antifungal, and proapoptotic effects. A plethora of literature
has already established the immense promise of curcuminoids in
the treatment and clinical management of various chronic
diseases like cancer, cardiovascular, metabolic, neurological,
inflammatory, and infectious diseases. To date, more than 230
clinical trials have opened investigations to understand the
pharmacological aspects of curcumin in human systems.
Counteracting Action of Curcumin on High
Glucose-Induced Chemoresistance in Hepatic Carcinoma Cells
Frontiers in Oncology | October 2021
Along with direct
anticancer activity, curcumin hinders the onset of
chemoresistance. Among many, high glucose condition is a key
driving factor for chemoresistance. Curcumin obviated the
hyperglycemia-induced modulations like elevated glucose
consumption, lactate production, and extracellular
acidification, and diminished nitric oxide and reactive oxygen
species (ROS) production. Modulated molecular regulators are
suggested to play a crucial role as curcumin pretreatment also
prevented the onset of chemoresistance by high glucose. Curcumin
alleviated the suppression of drug retention and nuclear
condensation along with hindering the high glucose-induced
alterations in transcription factors and signal transducers.
Curcumin inhibited the elevated expression of these enzymes,
transporters, and receptors in cancer cells. Curcumin also
uplifted the SDH expression, which was inhibited in high glucose
condition. Taken together, the findings of the present
investigation first time demonstrate the ability of curcumin
against high glucose-induced chemoresistance, along with its
molecular mechanism. This will have implication in therapeutic
management of malignancies in diabetic conditions.
The effects of curcumin supplementation on muscle damage,
oxidative stress, and inflammatory markers in healthy females
International Journal of Preventive Medicine | October 2021
Given the reports of positive effects attributed to curcumin,
many studies have investigated the antioxidant and
antiinflammatory properties of curcumin. A previous report by
Sahin et al. declared that curcumin administration can decrease
muscle damage by regulating the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB)
in male Wister rats. In addition, the results of another study
that performed on 90 rats with poly cystic ovarian syndrome
(PCOS) showed a significant reduction in C-reactive protein
(CRP) levels in the curcumin-treated rats. In healthy young
adult women, 8 weeks of curcumin supplementation yielded
significant improvements in CRP, LDH, MDA, and VO2 max. In the
present study, we found that 8 weeks of curcumin administration
attenuates MDA in females with moderate activity. In agreement
with these findings, a previous study revealed that curcumin
(1000 mg/day co-administered with piperine 10 mg/day)
supplementation for 8 weeks led to a significant decrease in
serum MDA and increase TAC in subjects with type 2 diabetes
mellitus. Concordantly, 6-week supplementation of 1500 mg/day
curcumin elicited significant improvements in antioxidant status
and a significant decrease in MDA concentrations in patients
with knee osteoarthritis. Curcumin, as an antioxidant agent, can
increase superoxide dismutase level via inhibiting
ROS-generating enzymes. In addition, it can increase serum
activities of antioxidants. Another positive action of curcumin
is related to scavenging properties to decrease oxidative
damage.
Curcumin as a great contributor for the treatment
and mitigation of colorectal cancer
Experimental Gerontology | October 2021
This review mainly
brings out the correlation between the curcumin and its use for
the mitigation of colorectal cancer, the use of curcumin as a
chemotherapeutic agent, chemosensitizer, and in a combination
and synergistic approach. The pharmacokinetics and
pharmacodynamics properties of curcumin and its formulation
approach helps in giving an idea to develop new approaches for
the treatment of colorectal cancer using curcumin.
Curcumin induces apoptosis and autophagy in human
renal carcinoma cells
Bioengineered |
October 2021
Curcumin is a traditional Chinese herb that has
been used for the treatment of various diseases. The compound
has been particularly confirmed to have anti-inflammatory,
anti-cancer, anti-virus, and anti-oxidant activities. Curcumin
shows less side effects, hence appropriate as a novel anticancer
drug. Previous studies have shown that curcumin administration
inhibited the growth, formation, invasion, and proliferation of
prostate cancer. Curcumin induces apoptosis of RCC through
AKT/mTOR pathway inhibition, suppresses the TNF-a, IL6 and IL-8
pro-inflammatory cytokines. Further, curcumin down-regulates
Akt/mTOR through upregulation of autophagy and finally, curcumin
inhibits tumor weight and volume in vivo. Use of curcumin to
target AKT/mTOR pathway could be an effective treatment
alternative for renal cell carcinoma.
Curcumin attenuates spatial memory impairment by
anti-oxidative, anti-apoptosis, and anti-inflammatory mechanism
NeuroToxicology | October 2021
Curcumin treatment improves
spatial memory impairment after methamphetamine neurotoxicity.
Curcumin treatment has an antioxidant activity in
methamphetamine neurotoxicity. Curcumin treatment reduced
caspase-3 activation after methamphetamine neurotoxicity.
Curcumin treatment has an anti-inflammatory activity in
methamphetamine neurotoxicity via reducing of TNFα. Curcumin
treatment reduced astrogliosis after methamphetamine
neurotoxicity.
Curcumin supplementation in the treatment of patients with
cancer: a systematic review
Brazilian
Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences | October 2021
Curcumin is a long-used phytochemical with a large
number of biological targets, for which anti-inflammatory,
antioxidant, anti-tumor, immunoregulatory, hepatoprotective,
anti-ischemic, anti-dyspeptic, anti-depressant, and analgesic
effects have been determined (Amalraj et al., 2017). Preclinical
studies have reported curcumin as a potent epigenetic regulator,
acting in the inhibition of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), DNA
methyltransferases (DNMTs), regulation of modifications of
histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and deacetylases (HDACs) and
in regulation of micro ribonucleic acids (miRNA) (Boyanapalli et
al., 2015; Remely et al., 2015). Studies conducted in vitro show
that curcumin prevents the degradation of nuclear factor
erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), leading to an increase in
antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase
and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). In addition, it balances the
level of these enzymes and recovers reactive oxygen species
(Rezaee et al., 2017; Sahebkar, 2013). It was also shown to have
an anti-inflammatory effect through negative regulation of
several cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α),
interleukins (IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12), monocyte chemoattractant
protein-1, cyclooxygenase-2 activity (COX-2), lipoxygenase
enzyme and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) (Aggarwal et
al., 2007; Gupta et al., 2013). In vitro and in vivo
investigations have also shown that curcumin reduces the
inflammatory process by means of inflammatory transcription
factors such as nuclear factor kappa (NF-kB), activator
protein-1 (AP-1) and signal transducer and activator of
transcription 3 (STAT3) (Panda et al., 2017; Imran et al.,
2016). NF-ĸB and AP-1 also act as transcription factors that
regulate the expression of different genes which affect cellular
processes, such as proliferation and apoptosis. Curcumin also
inhibited the expression of urokinase plasminogen (uPA), focal
adhesion kinase activity (FAK), suppressed expression of matrix
metalloproteinases (MMPs), inhibited epidermal growth factor
receptor (EGFR) activity, regulating tumor cell invasion and
metastasis (Durgaprasad et al., 2005; Vadhan-Raj et al., 2007;
Kim et al., 2011; Belcaro et al., 2010; Shokes et al., 2005;
Adhvaryu et al., 2008; Biswas et al., 2010). Due to these
therapeutic properties, curcumin exhibited activities against
various types of cancer (Gupta et al., 2013; Dhillon et al.,
2008; Golombick et al., 2009; Ide et al., 2010). The
results of this study are based on those obtained in the
literature on the effect of curcumin on the anti-inflammatory
profile, on reducing dermatitis, on PSA alteration and on
anti-oxidant profile for a total of 450 individuals, comprising
259 in the intervention group and 191 in the control group. Some
studies have reported improvement in biochemical and clinical
indicators, with limited adverse effects and good tolerance.
The clinical use of curcumin on neurological
disorders: An updated systematic review of clinical trials
Phytotherapy Research | October 2021
Neuroprotective effects
of curcumin have been shown in previous studies. This updated
systematic review of clinical trials aimed to investigate the
effect of curcumin on neurological disorders. Databases
including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar
were systematically searched to identify clinical trials
investigating the effects of curcumin/turmeric supplements
alone, or in combination with other ingredients, on neurological
diseases. Nineteen studies comprising 1,130 patients met the
inclusion criteria. Generally, intervention and study outcomes
were heterogeneous. In most of the studies, curcumin had a
favorable effect on oxidative stress and inflammation. However,
with the exception of AD, curcumin supplementation either alone,
or in combination with other ingredients, had beneficial effects
on clinical outcomes for the other aforementioned
neurodegenerative diseases. For example, the frequency,
severity, and duration of migraine attacks, scores on the
revised ALS functional rating scale, and the occurrence of motor
complications in PD were all significantly improved with
curcumin supplementation either alone or in combination with
other ingredients.
Curcumin exhibited better potential inhibition than
Hydroxy-Chloroquine against COVID-19
Biological and Medicinal Chemistry | October 2021
According
to present research results, Quercetin, Hispidulin,
Cirsimaritin, Sulfasalazine, Artemisin and Curcumin exhibited
better potential inhibition than Hydroxy-Chloroquine against
COVID-19 main protease active site and ACE2.
Targeting of cancer cell death mechanisms by
curcumin: Implications to cancer therapy
Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology | October 2021
Curcumin (which originates from turmeric) is a hydrophobic
polyphenol. It is one of the most famous anticancer and
anti-inflammatory herbal agents. Traditionally, curcumin was
used for some diseases such as acne and some
inflammation-related diseases like arthritis. Today, we
know that curcumin has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory
effects, which cause beneficial effects on the cardiac and
neural systems and also has pharmacological effects on some
diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer, atherosclerosis, some
immune system diseases and cancer. Curcumin has shown anticancer
properties for several types of malignancies in both in vitro
and in vivo studies. Gastrointestinal system malignancies, lung
cancer, brain cancer cells, leukaemia, melanoma and renal,
breast, prostate and pancreas cancers are some examples of
inhibition of cancers by curcumin. Curcumin has also been shown
to amplify the anticancer effects of chemotherapy drugs and
radiotherapy. Although several agents may increase the
therapeutic response of cancer cells to therapy, curcumin has
shown interesting results for the protection of normal
cells/tissues, a property that can reduce side effects of cancer
therapy. Curcumin has been shown to protect several organs such
as the lung, gastrointestinal system, heart, liver, testis, bone
marrow and skin against the toxic effects of radiotherapy and
chemotherapy. Curcumin as a natural agent has shown interesting
anticancer properties. It can prevent genomic instability in
normal cells to prevent the development of cancer. Furthermore,
it can suppress tumour growth at different stages through
induction of cell death, suppression of cancer cells' migration,
angiogenesis, and others. In this review, we focused on the
mechanisms of cell death induction in tumours using curcumin.
Curcumin is one of the most common herbal agents that has shown
several anticancer properties. It can regulate immune system
responses against cancer. Furthermore, curcumin has been shown
to potentiate cell death signalling pathways and attenuate
survival signalling pathways in cancer cells. The knowledge of
how curcumin induces cell death in cancers can improve
therapeutic efficiency. In this review, the regulatory effects
of curcumin on different cell death mechanisms and their
signalling pathways will be discussed. Furthermore, we explain
how curcumin may potentiate the anticancer effects of other
drugs or radiotherapy through modulation of apoptosis, mitotic
catastrophe, senescence, autophagy and ferroptosis.
The Functional Roles of Curcumin on Astrocytes in
Neurodegenerative Diseases
Neuroimmunomodulation | October 2021
Curcumin is the main
component of a yellow pigment, commonly called
diferuloylmethane, and is an active ingredient in the rhizome of
the herb Curcuma longa that represents various biomedical
applications. Curcumin has also been traditionally used for its
medicinal benefits and wound healing for centuries. It was first
applied as a drug to treat biliary disease in 1937. Curcumin is
a lipophilic polyphenol that is relatively stable in the acidic
pH but decomposes in neutral-basic conditions. Curcumin contains
approximately 77% diferuloylmethane, 17% dimethoxycurcumin, and
6% bisdemethoxycurcumin. Nowadays, curcumin (C21H20O6) has
important roles in the attenuation of progression of some
neurodegenerative diseases because of its anti-amyloid and
anti-inflammatory agents. In addition, curcumin also has several
benefits, such as being safe, inexpensive, and readily available
polyphenol that can cross the blood-brain barrier, thus
attracting researchers to use it for treating neurodegenerative
diseases. Curcumin is an NF-κB inhibitor by interrupting ZO-1
expression and localization, MLC phosphorylation, and ROS
generation inhibition, which constrains disruption of the
blood-brain barrierby Th17 cells. Furthermore, curcumin, through
its NF-κB inhibitory effect, causes intestine dendritic cell
differentiation into tolerogenic phenotypes, as well as naive T
cells to differentiate into FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (intestine
protective, Treg). Thus, curcumin can prevent colitis, due to
its anti-inflammatory function. The pharmacological
activities of curcumin are antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory,
antioxidant, and anticarcinogenic. It also exhibits potent
immunoregulatory activities that can modulate the T cells, B
cells, neutrophils, natural killer cells, and macrophage
activation and function. Curcumin has been shown to be
protective for several cells, including astrocytes, neurons,
microglia, and different part of the CNS such as hippocampal,
mesencephalic, cortical, and spinal cord. An MS animal study
showed that curcumin regulates T-cell responses to IL-12 by
blocking IL-12 production, and IL-12 signaling, through
inhibiting JAK-STAT signaling activation. Thus, it has been
suggested that curcumin could be used for treating MS and other
Th1-cell-mediated inflammatory diseases. Furthermore, curcumin
at high doses can directly induce T-cell apoptosis and inhibit
T-cell proliferation through blocking of the IL-2 signaling
pathway, high-affinity IL-2R, and interfering with IL-2R
signaling. These data indicate that curcumin has
immunosuppressive effects on many pathways. Thus, curcumin,
through its proinflammatory cytokines, decreases TNF-α/β, IL-1,
IL-6, and IL-8, and COX-2 provides a therapeutic effect by
reducing inflammatory conditions. Curcumin can cross blood-brain
barrier and, by inhibiting proinflammatory cytokines, can
regulate homeostasis of the CNS. The blood-brain barrier has a
crucial role in controlling the homeostasis of the brain
microenvironment. Thus, because autoreactive T-cell penetration
plays a key role in MS lesion development, the role of curcumin
to protect the blood-brain barrier could reduce the severity of
MS. Curcumin also decreases the severity of chronic inflammatory
diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, AD, and cancer.
In phase II clinical trial, curcumin was used orally in a mouse
model of colorectal cancer. It has been demonstrated that
curcumin can prevent carcinogenesis through different mechanisms
such as reduction of cyclooxygenases 1 and 2, 5-lipoxygenase,
prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid
production inhibition. Fortunately, curcumin via inhibition of
NF-κB signaling pathways can improve the effects of some
chemotherapy drugs. For example, in the mouse model of human
breast cancer, curcumin, in conjunction with paclitaxel, can
slow breast cancer progression and metastasis to the lung.
Unfortunately, curcumin has several disadvantages in cancer
treatment, including inhibition of some chemotherapy drug
activities. For example, curcumin decreased camptothecin-induced
death in cultured breast cancer cells and inhibited breast tumor
regression in mice. Furthermore, curcumin can also interfere
with colon cancer treatment through the change in irinotecan
absorption and efficacy. Curcumin is a valuable ingredient
present in turmeric spice and has several essential roles,
including those which are anticarcinogenic, hepatoprotective,
thrombosuppressive, cardioprotective, anti-arthritic,
anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, chemopreventive,
chemotherapeutic, and anti-infectious. Furthermore, curcumin can
suppress inflammation; promote angiogenesis; and treat diabetes,
pulmonary problems, and neurological dysfunction. Here, we
review the effects of curcumin on astrocytes in NDs, with a
focus on Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple
scleroses, Huntington’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis.
Pharmacological properties and underlying mechanisms of curcumin
and prospects in medicinal potential
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy | October 2021
The chemical
structure of curcumin known as diferuloylmethane has been
elucidated in 1910, the first study on its biological activity
as an antibacterial agent according to the PubMed database has
been published in 1949 Nature journal and the first clinical
trial has been reported in 1937 Lancet journal. Until now, there
are numerous in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies that show
it contained antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer,
anti-diabetic, and anti-viral infection. The major constituents
of curcuminoids contain Dihydrocurcumin, Tetrahydrocurcumin,
Curcumin, Bis-demethoxycurcumin, and Demethoxycurcumin from
turmeric (C. longa L.) rhizome. The beneficial health properties
and medicinal values of curcumin include its effect on immune
modulation, cardiovascular protection, and neuroprotection.
Previous report, the potential of turmeric as an antimicrobial,
insecticidal, larvicidal, antimutagenic, radioprotector, and
anticancer agent have validated in cell-based studies. Numerous
animal studies have found the latent of turmeric against
proinflammatory diseases, obesity, diabetes, atherosclerosis,
cancer, depression, and neurodegenerative diseases. Moreover,
turmeric has shown efficacy against numerous human disorders
including lupus nephritis, irritable bowel syndrome, acne,
fibrosis, diabetes, and cancer in clinical trial. Of note,
curcumin, major component of turmeric, is widely studied at the
preclinical level in various chronic illnesses that have been
extensively reviewed in many papers including mechanistic
insights . Of note curcumin is an important active ingredient in
turmeric that exerts pharmacological effects. Current research
has demonstrated that the pharmacological effects of curcumin
include: anti-lipidemics, anti-diabetics, anti-tumor,
anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrosis, anti-virus, anti-oxidation,
and serve as free radical scavengers.
Curcumin suppresses the progression of gastric
cancer
Open Life Sciences | October 2021
Curcumin is a natural polyphenolic compound isolated from
turmeric, which has lipid-lowering, anti-tumor,
anti-inflammation, and anti-oxidation effects. Recently, studies
have shown that curcumin can reduce the malignancy of several
cancers, such as pancreatic cancer, retinoblastoma,
osteosarcoma, and bladder cancer. Moreover, curcumin has also
been reported to have an anti-tumor effect on gastric cancer.
Nonetheless, the role and underlying mechanism of curcumin in
gastric cancer have not been well recognized. We
discovered that curcumin was able to inhibit gastric cancer cell
growth and motility and induce apoptosis by suppressing
circ_0056618 and elevating miR-194-5p. Previous research have
verified that curcumin exerts the anti-tumor effect mainly by
repressing tumor cell proliferation and motility and
facilitating apoptosis. For example, curcumin treatment
restrained Rb cell proliferation, invasion, and migration and
accelerated apoptosis. Curcumin suppressed the growth and cell
cycle process and facilitated the apoptosis of gastric cancer
cells. In line with these reports, we demonstrated that curcumin
treatment restrained cell colony formation, migration, and
invasion and accelerated cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in
gastric cancer cells in vitro and blocked tumorigenesis of
gastric cancer in vivo, indicating that curcumin might be a
candidate agent for gastric cancer therapy. In summary,
curcumin treatment could repress gastric cancer cell growth and
metastasis and promote apoptosis partly by regulation of
circ_0056618/miR-194-5p axis. The findings facilitated our
understanding on the mechanism of curcumin in gastric cancer
therapy and indicated that curcumin might be a potential
therapeutic drug for gastric cancer . In addition, accumulating
evidence showed that curcumin might prevent gastric cancer
through regulation of oncogenic pathways.
The Therapeutic Effects of Curcumin in Early Septic
Acute Kidney Injury: An Experimental Study
Drug Design, Development and Therapy | October 2021
Curcumin,
the major active component of Curcuma longa, was first isolated
in 1870 and widely used as spice, flavor, and colorant in daily
life.12 Several studies have evidenced the antioxidant,
anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, cardioprotective and
nephroprotective effects of curcumin. The protective effects of
curcumin on AKI are generally associated with its bifunctional
antioxidant activity and anti-inflammatory activity Curcumin
could ameliorate kidney disease with either acute or chronic
nephritis, and reduce activation of the NF-κB, MAPK, AKT and
pBAD pathways either systemically, or within the inflamed
kidneys. In addition, previous research found that curcumin
could improve renal function during ischemia-reperfusion induced
acute kidney injury, which protected the tubular epithelium from
injury by modulating inflammatory processes, oxidative stress,
and apoptosis. In our study, we show that curcumin represents a
new and promising effective treatment in S-AKI rat models.
Treatment with curcumin ameliorates renal functions, improves
both renal macro- and microcirculatory flow, reduces
inflammatory response and prevents pathological changes in
kidney. Curcumin may be a potential novel therapeutic
agent for the prevention or reduction of S-AKI.
Curcumin Reduces Adipose Tissue Inflammation and
Alters Gut Microbiota in Diet-Induced Obese Male Mice
Molecuar Nutrtion and Food Research | October 2021
Curcumin
exerts protective metabolic effects in dietary obesity, in part
through downregulation of adipose tissue inflammation, which may
be mediated by alterations in composition of gut microbiota, and
metabolism of curcumin into curcumin-o- glucuronide.
New insights of structural activity relationship of curcumin
and correlating their efficacy in anticancer studies
American Journal of Cancer Research | October 2021
During the
process of carcinogenesis at multiple stages, curcumin is
involved in several mechanisms including (a) the inhibition of
tumor initiation (cytotoxic studies) (b) suppression of cellular
proliferation (antiproliferation studies) (c) the induction of
apoptosis (d) the inhibition of angionesis and metastasis (e)
the inhibition of tumor induced immunosuppression. Analyzing the
cytotoxic results, curcumin has shown its potency towards most
of the cancer cell lines like Hela (Cervical cancer), HepG2
(Liver cancer), A549 (Adenocarcinoma human alveolar), MCF-7 and
MDA-MB-231 (Breast cancer), PC-3, RWEP-1 and DU145 (Prostate
cancer), SkoV3 (Ovarian cancer), A-431 (Epidermoid carcinoma),
U-251, T98, U87, U87 MG and U87 GBM (Glioblastoma), Panc-1 and
BxPC3 (Pancreatic cancer), HT-29 and HCT116 (Colon cancer),
H1299 and H460 (Lung cancer), AGS (Gastric cancer), HCT-15
(Colorectal adenocarcinoma), K562 (Chronic myelogenous).
Demethoxycurcumin (DMC) and bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC) are
naturally occurring compounds, which shows enhance potency
against cancer cell lines in vitro and differ from
curcumin in the position and number of hydroxyl and methoxy
substitution pattern. The presence of methoxy and hydroxyl group
in curcumin plays a vital role in deciding various biological
activities as reported by various research groups. Curcumin is a
naturally occurring compound which appears to be significant
clinical for applications in vitro as well as in vivo studies.
Many of the research groups have been paying attention towards
natural products for the development of anticancer drugs.
Curcumin, Rosmarinic acid and Chalcone are the naturally
occurring compounds, which are chemopreventive and
chemotherapeutic.
The effects of curcumin as dietary supplement for
patients with polycystic ovary syndrome
Phytotherapy Research | October 2021
Compared with the
control group, curcumin was associated with a statistically
significant improvement in the glycemic control including
fasting blood glucose, insulin level, homeostasis model
assessment of insulin resistance, and quantitative insulin
sensitivity check index. The mean difference in total
cholesterol was also statistically significant. This review
concluded that among patients with PCOS, the use of curcumin
demonstrated a significant difference from the control group for
glycemic control. Those findings suggest that curcumin confers
clinical benefits in patients with PCOS.
Curcumin as an Adjuvant to Cancer Immunotherapy
Frontiers in Oncology | September 2021
Turmeric, a
common spice obtained from Curcuma longa of the Zingiberacea
(Ginger) plant family, is the natural source of curcuminoids, a
mixture of three different components, i.e., curcumin,
demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin. A major fraction of
this compound mixture is curcumin or diferuloylmethane with
368.38 molecular weight. The crystalline orange-yellow powder is
an active polyphenolic phytochemical and has been widely used in
medicinal purposes for centuries in India and South Asia, due to
its nontoxic but miraculous properties such as anti-oxidant,
analgesic, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer
activity. Over time, curcumin has been considered as a
potential anti-cancer molecule. Its potentialities have been
recorded against the standard hallmarks of cancer such as
continuous proliferation, escaping apoptosis, continuous
angiogenesis, insensitivity to growth inhibitors, tissue
invasion, and metastasis. Hence, the diversity of curcumin
functioning has already been established and exploration of its
application with immunotherapies might open up a new avenue for
scientists and clinicians. In this review, we briefly discuss
the tumor’s way of immune escaping, followed by various modern
immunotherapies that have been used to encounter the escaping
paths and their minute flaws. Finally, the conclusion has been
drawn with the application of curcumin as a potential
immune-adjuvant, which fearlessly could be used with
immunotherapies for best outcomes. Hence, it is considered very
interesting to envision the role of curcumin concerning cancer
immunotherapies as an immunomodulator.
Curcumin improves memory deficits by inhibiting
HMGB1-RAGE/TLR4-NF-κB signalling pathway
Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine | September 2021
Curcumin, extracted from turmeric rhizomes, is a Food and Drug
Administration-approved food additive in the curry spice
turmeric. It possesses potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant
properties and is widely used to treat chronic inflammatory
diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, metabolic syndrome and
various other degenerative diseases.It has therapeutic potential
in AD models, both in vitro and in vivo. Curcumin is a natural
polyphenolic product derived from the rhizome of Curcuma longa
and has various beneficial properties, such as
anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antitumor properties. Here,
we found that curcumin treatment effectively improved the
cognitive performance of transgenic mice in the MWM and Y-maze,
and our results were consistent with those of previous studies.
In conclusion, this study demonstrated that curcumin treatment
significantly ameliorates cognitive impairment in aged APP/PS1
transgenic mice. The possible underlying mechanism might be
associated with the accumulation of amyloid plaques, activation
of the HMGB1-RAGE/TLR4-NF-κB signalling pathway, and astrocytes
activated during neuroinflammation in APP/PS1 transgenic mice.
These results suggest that curcumin treatment, as a food
additive for long-term oral administration, is an effective
therapeutic strategy for AD.
Antimetastatic Effects of Curcumin in Oral and Gastrointestinal
Cancers
Frontiers in Pharmacology |
September 2021
For centuries, curcumin has been widely used
as a dietary spice, and contemporary research studies have
confirmed its efficacy in cancer therapy. Anticancer effects are
the most pivotal properties of curcumin, which affect the
different stages of cancer progression, including cancer cell
formation, proliferation, and tumor invasion. According to
extensive research, curcumin can suppress metastasis in GI
cancers via regulating various signaling pathways. Curcumin has
a crucial function in metastasis prevention by several
mechanisms, including preventing transcription factors as well
as their signaling pathways (e.g., NF-κB, STAT3, AP-1), multiple
proteases (e.g., MMPs, uPA), inflammatory cytokines (e.g.,
CXCL1, IL-6, CXCL2, IL-8), modulation of miRNAs (e.g., miR181b,
miR21), multiple protein kinases (e.g., FAK, MAPKs), and heat
shock proteins (HLJ1). According to research, curcumin treatment
leads to significant elevation in metastatic tumor
cross-sectional volume (70%) and zone (46%). Curcumin may
enhance LLC's metastatic growth in mice by elevating the
concentration of VEGF, angiogenic factors, monocyte chemotactic
protein-1 (MCP-1), and IL-1β. In addition to the possible
pharmaceutical effects of curcumin, the safety and relevant
therapeutic dose should also be established, given reports on
the side effects of curcumin in cancer therapy. Curcumin a
polyphenolic extraction of Curcuma longa species, which is often
termed as turmeric (Shafabakhsh et al., 2019; Ashrafizadeh et
al., 2020). Curcumin had been used as a traditional Ayurvedic
medicine due to its significant anti-inflammatory (Satoskar et
al., 1986), antioxidant (Masuda et al., 2001), and antimicrobial
(Negi et al., 1999) properties. Currently, curcumin is
associated with powerful anticancer properties. Different animal
studies have shown that curcumin has important roles in
inhibiting primary tumorigenesis in numerous organs as
metastatic sites, such as mammary glands (Inano et al., 1999)
and gastrointestinal tract (Huang et al., 1994). Some
investigations showed that curcumin has potential regulatory
effects on the expression of proangiogenic growth factors (6–8).
Curcumin inhibits angiogenic activities caused by fibroblast
growth factor (bFGF) in rabbit and mouse models (Mohan et al.,
2000). It also diminished the vascular endothelial growth factor
(VEGF) serum levels in mice models of hepatocellular carcinoma
(Yoysungnoen et al., 2006).
Curcumin suppresses inflammatory signaling in brain
microglia
The Journal of Immunology |
September 2021
Curcumin is a major component of tumeric. It
has been used as an Indian medicine for centuries, and is
currently commonly used as a spice for flavor and to impart a
yellow color. Curcumin has recently received much attention for
its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antitumor activities.
The anti-inflammatory actions of curcumin seem to be closely
related to the suppression of proinflammatory cytokines and
mediators of their release such as TNF-γ, IL-1β, and NOs. There
are reports that curcumin inhibits cytokine-mediated NF-κB
activation by blocking a signal leading to I-κB kinase activity
in intestinal epithelial and mouse fibroblast cells, and also
suppresses phorbol ester-induced c-Jun/AP-1 activation. However,
the mechanisms underlying interactions of curcumin with these
signaling pathways are poorly understood. Recently, we have
shown that JAK-STAT inflammatory signaling modulates glial
activation. Thus, we examined whether curcumin inhibits the
JAK-STAT pathways in activated microglia. Curcumin inhibits the
phosphorylation of JAK1 and JAK2 via the increased
phosphorylation of SHP-2 and its association with JAK1/2, thus
attenuating inflammatory response. Our results show that
curcumin acts via a novel anti-inflammatory mechanism and is
also a negative regulator of the JAK-STAT pathway by the
activation of SHP-2. Taken together, these data suggest curcumin
suppresses JAK-STAT signaling via activation of SHP-2, thus
attenuating inflammatory response of brain microglial cells.
Curcumin as Prospective Anti-Aging Natural Compound:
Focus on Brain
Molecules | September 2021
Curcumin is a natural dietary
polyphenol extracted from Curcuma longa Linn with
different biological and pharmacological properties including
antioxidant, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory,
anti-microbial, cardio-protective, nephro-protective,
hepato-protective, anti-neoplastic, anti-rheumatic, and
anti-aging. The chemical name of curcumin is
1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-hepta-1,6-diene-3,5-dione
with a chemical formula of C12H20O6; it is formed by two
aromatic rings with a methaxy phenolic group, kinked with a
linear carbon chain, with an α,β-unsatured β-diketone moiety.
Curcumin, like other polyphenols, has pleiotropic activity.
Indeed, due to its capacity to interact with many proteins,
curcumin can induce cellular response to external stimuli.
Moreover, curcumin up- and downregulates different miRNA and
takes part in epigenetic changes in cell. In our view,
curcumin is one of the best candidates to achieve this goal with
its antiviral, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic,
and antifatigue proprieties. It is important to highlight that
Curcumin is devoid of any significant toxicity in most of the
preclinical as well as clinical investigations, and few
investigations have reported negative effects of curcumin. In
addition, natural products may be a safe, secure, and dependable
source to find drugs responsible for controlling the current
pandemic, and even if the beneficial effects of curcumin against
SARS-CoV-2 have not yet been reported, curcumin has some useful
clinical effects that could be effective to manage the symptoms
of the infected patient with COVID-19. Curcumin in fact can
modulate the events of SARS-CoV-2 cellular entry, their
replication, and molecular cascade manifesting
pathophysiological consequences of COVID-19. Due to its
important and healthy proprieties, we think that dietary
supplementation with curcumin could be a suitable approach to
prevent a large panel of diseases and improve the quality of
life. In this review, we have described the anti-aging potential
of curcumin with particular regard to prevention and treatment
of brain diseases, in different ways: (1) by acting on different
target proteins, (2) by inducing antioxidant and
anti-inflammatory events, (3) by modulating microglia
neuroprotection, and (4) by acting on telomerases to arrest
cancer progression.
Curcumin Reduces Colorectal Cancer Cell Proliferation and
Migration and Slows In Vivo Growth of Liver Metastases in Rats
Biomedicines | September 2021
Curcumin has shown an
anti-tumor effect against liver implants from colorectal cancer,
both in vitro and in vivo, in this experimental model. Curcumin
is a well-known plant-derived polyphenol with a wide range of
activities, such as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and
hepatoprotective properties. In vitro studies with several
cancer cell lines have proven curcumin to inhibit proliferation,
such as on MCF-7 human breast tumor cells. It has also been
observed that curcumin can improve the efficacy of other
therapies, such as Paclitaxel on rat glioma C6 cells, and of
5-FU and/or oxaliplatin in BGC-823 human gastric cancer cell
line or in HCT116 human colon cancer cells. In this cell line,
it has been found that curcumin inhibits the cell cycle,
activates p53 (only in p53+/+ cells) and p21, and triggers
cellular senescence (irreversible growth arrest of proliferating
cells) through the activation of the lysosomal enzyme
senescence-associated-β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) and the
upregulation of the p21 protein. Other studies have also shown
that curcumin-induced apoptosis is related to oxidative stress
caused by the production of superoxide anion, which contributes
to p53-independent cellular cytotoxicity. These findings were
further corroborated in other cell lines (COLO-205), showing
that curcumin induces cytotoxicity and apoptosis in a
dose-dependent manner. In addition, curcumin promotes the
production of reactive oxygen species and Ca2+, and induces the
caspase-3 activity. In in vivo animal studies using cancer cells
implants (most of them in animals lacking immune system),
curcumin reduces the growth of the implants and the appearance
of metastases. It has also been demonstrated that curcumin
reduces tumor invasion and metastatic growth by, for example,
reducing the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) 2 and
9, or blocking nuclear translocation of nuclear factor kappa B
(NFκB) by inhibiting the inhibitor of kappaB kinase. This
molecular pathway is also involved in the prevention of liver
damage after exposure to radiotherapy by regulating oxidative
stress damage and reducing the accumulation of reactive oxygen
species, which are well known to contribute to tumor progression
by promoting cell transformation, proliferation, and the
survival of tumor cells.
Phenolic compounds like curcumin disrupt spike-mediated
receptor-binding and entry of SARS-CoV-2 pseudo-virions
PLOS ONE | September 2021
Among 56 tested
polyphenols, including plant extracts, brazilin,
theaflavin-3,3’-digallate, and curcumin displayed the highest
binding with the receptor-binding domain of spike protein,
inhibiting viral attachment to the human angiotensin-converting
enzyme 2 receptor, and thus cellular entry of pseudo-typed
SARS-CoV-2 virions. Both, theaflavin-3,3’-digallate at 25 μg/ml
and curcumin above 10 μg/ml concentration, showed binding with
the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor reducing at the
same time its activity in both cell-free and cell-based assays.
Our study also demonstrates that brazilin and
theaflavin-3,3’-digallate, and to a still greater extent,
curcumin, decrease the activity of transmembrane serine protease
2 both in cell-free and cell-based assays. Similar pattern was
observed with cathepsin L, although only
theaflavin-3,3’-digallate showed a modest diminution of
cathepsin L expression at protein level. Finally, each of these
three compounds moderately increased endosomal/lysosomal pH.
ccording to Patel et al., curcumin and its derivatives showed
high binding affinity to the RBD of SARS-CoV-2, with ΔG (i.e.,
binding energy) between -10.01 to -5.33 kcal/mol. Based on a
binding energy that resembles that of synthetic drugs, and also
pharmacokinetic parameters, these researchers identified
curcumin as a candidate for SARS-CoV-2 spike protein inhibition.
Moreover, Jena et al. reported on catechin and curcumin, which
have dual binding affinity, i.e., they bind to viral spike
protein as well as to hACE2, although catechin’s binding
affinity is greater (i.e., cathechin: -7.9 kcal/mol and -7.8
kcal/mol; curcumin: -10.5 kcal/mol and -8.9 kcal/mol,
respectively). While these theoretical and molecular modelling
approaches could identify potential applications of various
molecules, the experimental proofs of their efficacy remain
sparse. Here, we provide in vitro evidence that among 56 tested
phenolic compounds and plant extracts, brazilin, TF-3, and
curcumin exhibited the highest binding to RBD-spike protein of
SARS-CoV-2. In conclusion, this study demonstrates pleiotropic
anti-SARS-CoV-2 efficacy of specific polyphenols and their
prospects for further scientific and clinical investigations.
Behavioral and morphological effects of resveratrol
and curcumin in rats submitted to doxorubicin-induced cognitive
impairment
Research in Veterinary Science |
September 2021
Curcumin prevented short and long-term memory
deficits caused by doxorubicin.
The Influence of Turmeric and Curcumin on Female
Reproductive Processes
Planta Medica |
September 2021
The present review summarizes the available
knowledge concerning the action of curcumin, the best-known
polyphenol among the rhizomes of Curcumas, on female
reproductive processes and their dysfunctions. Curcumin affects
a number of physiological processes, including female
reproduction (puberty, reproductive aging, ovarian
follicullogenesis and oogenesis, and fecundity). Curcumin can
affect these processes via changes in the release and reception
of pituitary and ovarian hormones, growth factors and cytokines.
Furthermore, it can influence the response of ovarian cells to
these substances and external environmental factors. Finally,
curcumin can affect oxidative processes within the ovary and
numerous intracellular signalling pathways related to ovarian
cell proliferation and apoptosis. These effects suggest the
applicability of curcumin for stimulation of female reproductive
processes in vivo and in vitro, as well as for the prevention,
mitigation, and treatment of various reproductive disorders from
ovarian insufficiency and infertility to polycystic ovarian
syndrome and ovarian cancer.
Curcumin Inhibits Replication of Human Parainfluenza
Virus
BioMed Research International |
September 2021
Curcumin is a natural phenolic compound
extracted from a plant turmeric rhizome. It has a wide range of
anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antitumor properties. Recent
studies have found that curcumin has broad-spectrum antiviral
capabilities. Here, we identify a novel role for curcumin as an
antiviral drug against HPIV3 infection through its ability to
affect IB formation and viral replication. This provides a
theoretical basis for research and development of HPIV3
antiviral drugs, with implications for parainfluenza virus
research and other similar viruses. Our studies found that
curcumin has a significant antiviral effect on HPIV3 infection
and has varying degrees of impact on multiple stages of the
viral life cycle. Curcumin can disrupt the structural integrity
of F-actin, downregulate the endogenous PI4KB expression, and
interfere with the colocalization of PI4KB and IBs, thereby
hindering viral IB formation and inhibiting viral replication.
Mazumder discovered that curcumin could inhibit HIV-1 integrase,
thereby inhibiting HIV-1 infection, and inhibit HCV replication
by interfering with the Akt-SREBP-1 pathway. Curcumin can also
interfere with binding of Zika and Chikungunya viruses to host
cells to inhibit viral infection. To inhibit hepatitis B virus,
curcumin can downregulate the metabolic molecule PGC-1. Although
curcumin pretreatment does not affect plaque formation of
enterovirus 71 (EV71), curcumin downregulates PI4KB expression
in cells and affects the in vitro replication of EV71. Several
studies have shown that curcumin has antiviral ability against
enveloped and nonenveloped viruses, and the antiviral mechanisms
in different viruses are also diverse. We verified the antiviral
ability of curcumin against HPIV3 and preliminarily clarified
that curcumin can inhibit IB formation by disrupting F-actin’s
integrity. Simultaneously, curcumin can downregulate endogenous
PI4KB level in cells, interfering with colocalization of PI4KB
and IBs to affect IB formation, thereby inhibiting viral
replication.
Turmeric and Curcumin: From Traditional to Modern Medicine
Studies on Biomarkers and New Targets in Aging
Research | September 2021
The rhizome of turmeric (Curcuma longa
L.) has been used as an herbal medicine, coloring agent, spice,
and food additive for thousands of years in different parts of
the world particularly in Asian countries. It has been used for
a range of diseases in many traditional medical schools,
including Islamic traditional medicine, Chinese traditional
medicine, and Ayurveda. It has been used mainly for digestive
problems, as a cardio-, hepato-, and neuroprotective agent as
well as in many inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and
for enhancing immune system. Curcumin, a diarylheptanoid
derivative found in turmeric, has anti-inflammatory,
antioxidant, and anticancer properties; controls obesity and
metabolic problems; and improves memory and mood disorders.
Therapeutically, curcumin exhibits promising potential in
preclinical and clinical studies and is currently in human
trials for a variety of conditions, including metabolic
syndrome, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, rheumatoid
arthritis, migraine, premenstrual syndrome, ulcerative colitis,
knee osteoarthritis, polycystic ovarian syndrome,
atherosclerosis, liver cirrhosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,
depression, psoriasis, and Alzheimer’s disease. Among all
beneficial activities reported for curcumin, the research toward
the obesity and metabolic-preventing/suppressing aspects of
curcumin is growing. These findings emphasize that most of the
traditional applications of turmeric is due to the presence of
its key constituent, curcumin. According to the traditional
background of turmeric use and clinical values of curcumin,
further preclinical studies for unstudied properties and
clinical studies with larger sample sizes for confirmed
activities are expected.
Efficacy and Safety of Curcumin Supplement on
Improvement of Insulin Resistance in People
with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Evidence-Based Complementary
and Alternative Medicine | September 2021
Curcumin is a
chemical component extracted from the rhizome of some plants. It
has a series of effects such as blood lipid lowering, antitumor,
anti-inflammatory, and antioxidation and has been used as a food
flavoring agent, preservative, and ancillary medication for some
diseases (such as heart disease and tumors). In the treatment of
diabetes, there is also evidence to support curcumin as a part
of the diabetes treatment program. Based on the current
evidence, curcumin may assist in improving insulin resistance,
glycemic control, and decrease in TG and TC in patients with
T2DM.
Curcumin functions as an anti-inflammatory and
antioxidant agent on arsenic-induced hepatic and kidney injury
Environmental Toxicology | September 2021
As a plant
polyphenol, curcumin is the most vital bioactive ingredient of
turmeric and has a wide range of pharmacological activities. In
the present study, we investigated the potential roles of
curcumin against arsenic-induced liver and kidney dysfunctions
in mice. Curcumin treatment (200 mg/kg) not only decreased the
deposition of arsenic in liver and kidney, but also relieved the
hepatic and nephritic biochemical indexes (Glutamic oxaloacetic
transaminase [AST], Alanine aminotransferase [ALT], albumin, and
creatinine) altered by arsenic at doses of 10 and 25 mg/L via
drinking water. What's more, curcumin exerted influences on the
activities of myeloperoxidase and on the secretion of
inflammatory cytokines in liver and kidney tissues. In addition,
the levels of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and
nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) phosphorylation were declining
while NRF2-signaling targets were increasing in mice liver and
kidney by curcumin administration. In conclusion, our results
here suggest that curcumin could exert both anti-inflammatory
and antioxidant functions on arsenic-induced hepatic and kidney
injury by inhibiting MAPKs/NF-κB and activating Nrf2 pathways
cooperatively.
Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Curcumin on the Mouse
Model of Myocardial Infarction
Mediators of
Inflammation | September 2021
Curcumin, an active ingredient
extracted from natural plants, has been proven to have many
physiological effects, including hypolipidemic, antitumor,
anti-inflammatory, and antioxidation, and was used as treatment
for drug-resistant tuberculosis, etc. Importantly, previous
studies have shown that curcumin promotes heart repair after
myocardial infarction and improves cardiac dysfunction, as well
as improving the therapeutic efficacy of heart failure after
myocardial infarction, but the specific mechanism is imperfect.
In addition, curcumin has been found to suppress inflammation by
inhibiting macrophage infiltration, and it can also regulate
macrophage polarization. In this study, we found that curcumin
not only attenuated ventricular remodeling and inflammation
after MI but also reduced M1 but increased M2 macrophage
activation in the MI mouse model. In addition, in vitro studies
also revealed that some curcumin regulates the molecular
mechanism of macrophage polarization, which was regulated AMPK
expression. All in all, our research enriches the mechanism of
curcumin in the treatment of myocardial infarction.
Effects of Curcumin against Influenza Using In Silico and In
Vitro Approaches
Pharmaceuticals |
September 2021
Curcumin has attracted considerable research
interest because of its versatile pharmacological properties,
including anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and anticancer effects.
Previous studies have reported that curcumin inhibits the
influenza virus by interfering with cellular signaling pathways,
including Toll-like receptor and nuclear factor-κB pathways, and
disrupting the viral envelope and liposomal membranes.
Curcumin: Implications for the Treatment of Multiple
Sclerosis
Studies on Biomarkers and New
Targets in Aging Research | September 2021
Curcumin is the
active component of turmeric and a phenolic phytochemical. This
phytochemical has anti-inflammatory properties and has been
shown by multiple studies to downregulate NF-κB and its
downstream gene targets including cyclooxygenase-2, tumor
necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1, and interleukin-6.
Antimetastatic Effects of Curcumin in Oral and Gastrointestinal
Cancers
Frontiers in Pharmacology | August
2021
For centuries, curcumin has been widely used as a
dietary spice, and contemporary research studies have confirmed
its efficacy in cancer therapy. Anticancer effects are the most
pivotal properties of curcumin, which affect the different
stages of cancer progression, including cancer cell formation,
proliferation, and tumor invasion. According to extensive
research, curcumin can suppress metastasis in GI cancers via
regulating various signaling pathways. Curcumin has a crucial
function in metastasis prevention by several mechanisms,
including preventing transcription factors as well as their
signaling pathways (e.g., NF-κB, STAT3, AP-1), multiple
proteases (e.g., MMPs, uPA), inflammatory cytokines (e.g.,
CXCL1, IL-6, CXCL2, IL-8), modulation of miRNAs (e.g., miR181b,
miR21), multiple protein kinases (e.g., FAK, MAPKs), and heat
shock proteins (HLJ1). According to research, curcumin treatment
leads to significant elevation in metastatic tumor
cross-sectional volume (70%) and zone (46%). Curcumin may
enhance LLC's metastatic growth in mice by elevating the
concentration of VEGF, angiogenic factors, monocyte chemotactic
protein-1 (MCP-1), and IL-1β.Curcumin or
[(1E,6E)-1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione]
is a polyphenolic extraction of Curcuma longa species. Curcumin
had been used as a traditional Ayurvedic medicine due to its
significant anti-inflammatory (Satoskar et al., 1986),
antioxidant (Masuda et al., 2001), and antimicrobial (Negi et
al., 1999) properties. Currently, curcumin is associated with
powerful anticancer properties. Different animal studies have
shown that curcumin has important roles in inhibiting primary
tumorigenesis in numerous organs as metastatic sites, such as
mammary glands (Inano et al., 1999) and gastrointestinal tract
(Huang et al., 1994). Some investigations showed that curcumin
has potential regulatory effects on the expression of
proangiogenic growth factors (6–8). Curcumin inhibits angiogenic
activities caused by fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in rabbit
and mouse models (Mohan et al., 2000). It also diminished the
vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) serum levels in mice
models of hepatocellular carcinoma (Yoysungnoen et al., 2006).
Interleukin (IL)-1β and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1)
are critical inflammatory cytokines in tumorigenesis.
Accordingly, some studies demonstrated that these cytokines'
expression levels reduced after curcumin intervention (Abe et
al., 1999). Recent studies have also indicated that curcumin can
modulate tumor immune responses and remodel the tumor
immunosuppressive microenvironment, indicating its potential in
the immunotherapy of cancer (Mukherjee et al., 2018; Bahrami et
al., 2019a; Pan et al., 2019). Curcumin has antimetastatic
activities, modulating T cells, B cells, macrophages,
neutrophils, NK cells, dendritic cells and production of
cytokines and chemokines. In addition, recent studies have shown
that curcumin exerts immunosuppressive effects (Shafabakhsh et
al., 2019). These findings showed that curcumin has crucial
roles in the inhibition of angiogenesis and metastasis in GI
cancers.
Curcumin as Prospective Anti-Aging Natural Compound: Focus on
Brain
Molecules | August 2021
Curcumin
is a natural dietary polyphenol extracted from Curcuma longa
Linn with different biological and pharmacological properties
including antioxidant, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory,
anti-microbial, cardio-protective, nephro-protective,
hepato-protective, anti-neoplastic, anti-rheumatic, and
anti-aging. Curcumin, the yellow polyphenolic compound extracted
from Curcuma longa species, is widely used in traditional
Ayurvedic medicine to prevent and contrast many diseases,
considering its antioxidant, immunomodulatory,
anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, cardio-protective,
nephron-protective, hepato-protective, anti-neoplastic, and
anti-rheumatic proprieties. In recent years, the investigations
of curcumin have been focused on its application to aging and
age-associated diseases. Aging is a physiological process in
which there is a decreasing of cellular function due to internal
or external stimuli. Oxidative stress is one of the most
important causes of aging and age-related diseases. Moreover,
many age-related disorders such as cancer, neuroinflammation,
and infections are due to a low-grade chronic systemic
inflammation. Curcumin acting on different proteins is able to
contrast both oxidative stress than inflammation. In the brain,
curcumin is able to modulate inflammation induced by microglia.
Finally in brain tumors curcumin is able to reduce tumor growth
by inhibition of telomerase activity. This review emphasizes the
anti-aging role of curcumin focusing on its mechanism to
counteract aging in the brain.
Antioxidant effects of curcumin and neuroaging
Factors Affecting Neurological Aging | August 2021
Curcumin,
a plant-based polyphenol, is known to scavenge free radicals and
promote antioxidant activity. This chapter gives an overview of
the molecular evidence that curcumin prevents oxidative stress,
cellular senescence, and death. In addition, curcumin’s role in
protection against memory impairment as evidenced by brain
imaging studies is reviewed. Although there are limited
published clinical trials, there is preliminary evidence for
curcumin improving memory and decreasing amyloid-β plaque
accumulation. Consequently, curcumin has potential as a therapy
in aging and aging-related disorders and further studies on its
properties are warranted.
Pleiotropic nature of curcumin in strategies to
treat gastric cancer
Phytotherapy Research
| August 2021
Curcumin, isolated from the rhizomes of
Curcuma longa L. has several medicinal properties like
antiinflammatory, antioxidant, antiapoptotic, antitumor, and
antimetastatic. Such pleiotropic nature of curcumin impedes the
invasion and proliferation of GC by targeting several oncogenic
factors like p23, human epidermal factor receptor2 including
Helicobacter pylori. The side effect of chemotherapy, that is,
chemotherapeutic resistance and radiotherapy could be reduced
combination therapy of curcumin. Moreover, the photodynamic
therapy of curcumin destroys the cancer cells without affecting
normal cells.
Targeting of the tumor microenvironment by curcumin
BioFactors | August 2021
Curcumin is a plant-derived agent
that has shown interesting properties for cancer therapy. It has
shown that not only directly inhibit the growth of cancer cells,
but can also modulate the growth and activity of
immunosuppressant and tumor-promoting cells. In this review, we
explain how curcumin modulates interactions within TME in favor
of tumor treatment. The potential modulating effects of curcumin
on the responses of cancer cells to treatment modalities such as
immunotherapy will also be discussed.
Effect of curcumin on proinflammatory cytokines: A
meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Cytokine | August 2021
Curcumin has the potential for
lowering inflammation. There was a significant decrease in
the serum levels of IL-1 and TNF-α compared to the placebo group
following treatment. The dose-responses analysis indicated
that curcumin/turmeric supplementation resulted in IL-1 and IL-8
alteration in a non-linear model. Subgroup analysis
according to duration and dose of treatment and target
population revealed diverse outcomes. Curcumin could have a
beneficial effect in reducing the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1
and TNF-α.
Antidiabetic Properties of Curcumin: Insights on New
Mechanisms
Studies on Biomarkers and New
Targets in Aging Research | August 2021
Curcumin, a bioactive
polyphenol derived from Curcuma longa L., exhibits
therapeutic effects against diabetes while only negligible
adverse effects have been observed. Antioxidant and
anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin are the main and
well-recognized pharmacological effects that might explain its
antidiabetic effects. Additionally, curcumin may regulate novel
signaling molecules and enzymes involved in the pathophysiology
of diabetes, including glucagon-like peptide-1, dipeptidyl
peptidase-4, glucose transporters, alpha-glycosidase,
alpha-amylase, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor
gamma (PPARγ). Recent findings from in vitro and in vivo studies
on novel signaling pathways involved in the potential beneficial
effects of curcumin for the treatment of diabetes are discussed
in this review.
Curcumin: A Review of Its Effects on Epilepsy
Studies on Biomarkers and New Targets in Aging Research | August
2021
Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is a major component of
Curcuma longa and exhibits
various pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory,
antioxidant, and immunoregulatory properties. Here, we have
reviewed the literature relating specifically to the
antiepileptic effects of curcumin. The evidence suggests a
protective effect of curcumin in the control of epileptic
seizures, together with a protective effect on the relief of
memory impairment, which may stem from its influence on
monoamine levels in the brain.
Curcumin for the Treatment of Prostate Diseases: A Systematic
Review of Clinical Trials
Studies on
Biomarkers and New Targets in Aging Research | August 2021
Curcumin is a primary component of turmeric with several proven
health benefits and is considered as a safe natural agent for
both prevention and treatment of several diseases. It has been
shown that this active compound of turmeric has several unique
properties such as anti-tumour, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant,
antithrombotic, chemosensitising and chemopreventive,
anti-atherosclerotic and cardioprotective, lipid-modifying,
antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, analgesic, antidepressant
and antirheumatic activities. Evidence suggests that curcumin
has anticancer activity and, based on preclinical studies, it
might be used to downregulate gene expression in prostate cancer
cells. Also, due to the anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin,
it has been suggested that this bioactive compound might have a
beneficial impact on BPH and other inflammatory prostate
conditions. The main finding of this systematic review is that
curcumin supplementation alone or in combination with the other
herbs had some favourable effects on prostate diseases without
any considerable adverse effects. In particular, curcumin
appeared to have anti-inflammatory effects which could offer
some therapeutic effects and improve patient outcomes.
The Clinical Use of Curcumin for the Treatment of Rheumatoid
Arthritis: A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials
Studies on Biomarkers and New Targets in Aging Research
| August 2021
Curcumin is one of the most studied hydrophobic
polyphenols, derived mainly from Curcuma longa L. (turmeric).
Curcumin has been widely and safely used in the treatment and
prevention of various diseases. The potential protective
mechanisms of curcumin have been claimed to be related to
antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, neuroprotective,
anti-tumor, and immunomodulatory properties. Curcumin with
anti-antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory
properties might have beneficial effects on Rheumatoid
Arthritis. Rheumatoid factor was significantly reduced after
consumption of curcumin in all three relevant studies. None of
the studies reported serious adverse effects with curcumin
consumption. The present systematic review suggests that
curcumin could be used as a safe agent to treat Rheumatoid
Arthritis.
Effect of curcumin on proinflammatory cytokines: A meta-analysis
of randomized controlled trials
Cytokine |
August 2021
Curcumin has the potential for lowering
inflammation. There was a significant decrease in the serum
levels of IL-1 and TNF-α compared to the placebo group following
treatment. The dose-responses analysis indicated that
curcumin/turmeric supplementation resulted in IL-1 and IL-8
alteration in a non-linear model. Subgroup analysis according to
duration and dose of treatment and target population revealed
diverse outcomes. Curcumin could have a beneficial effect in
reducing the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1 and TNF-α.
A Systematic Review of the Clinical Use of Curcumin
for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis
Studies
on Biomarkers and New Targets in Aging Research | August 2021
There is growing evidence that curcumin has anti-inflammatory
properties and could be a potential therapeutic option for
chronic inflammatory diseases. Hence, curcumin could potentially
have a positive impact on osteoarthritis symptoms. There was a
significant improvement in VAS and overall WOMAC scores with
oral administration of various types of curcumin formulations
with no severe adverse effects. In conclusion, different types
of curcumin compounds may be beneficial as an alternative or
complementary agent for the management of osteoarthritis.
Neuroprotective Effects of Curcumin in Cerebral Ischemia
ACS Chemical Neuroscience | August 2021
Curcumin, a polyphenol that is abundantly present in the rhizome
of the turmeric plant (Curcuma longa), has shown promising
neuroprotective effects in animal models of neurodegenerative
diseases, including cerebral ischemia. In the central nervous
system (CNS), neuroprotective effects of curcumin have been
experimentally validated in Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s
disease, multiple sclerosis, and cerebral ischemia. Curcumin can
exert pleiotropic effects in the postischemic brain including
antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic,
vasculoprotective, and direct neuroprotective efficacies.
Importantly, neuroprotective effects of curcumin has been
reported in both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke models. A
broad-spectrum neuroprotective efficacy of curcumin suggested
that curcumin can be an appealing therapeutic strategy to treat
cerebral ischemia.
5 Science-Backed Health Benefits Of Curcumin
Forbes Health | July 2021
“It’s one of the most powerful anti-inflammatories and a very
powerful antioxidant,” says Melina Jampolis, M.D. Multiple
studies suggest that curcumin has positive effects on
Alzheimer’s disease. First, and most important, curcumin appears
to both prevent the formation and encourage the breakup of the
rogue proteins (beta-amyloid plaques) that form between the
brain’s nerve cells and impair their communication (a hallmark
of Alzheimer’s). Curcumin also seems to help clear away another
suspect protein called tau that collects inside the neurons and
is also implicated in causing Alzheimer’s disease. A wide
variety of studies document curcumin’s effectiveness in reducing
joint inflammation and pain just as well, but without the
gastrointestinal side effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDS). Curcumin can potentially benefit the brain in
broader ways as well. The polyphenol’s antioxidant and
anti-inflammatory properties may also help in preventing or
reducing the symptoms of other neurodegenerative diseases like
dementia, Huntington’s disease, multiple sclerosis and
Parkinson’s disease. In clinical trials, curcumin reduced major
depression and, in some cases, relieved anxiety in study
subjects. “Curcumin seems to benefit mood by increasing
brain-derived neurotrophic factor,” says Dr. Jampolis.
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a protein that keeps
neuronal cells healthy, and its production seems to be
stimulated by plant-derived polyphenols like curcumin.
Because of curcumin’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions,
it may convey some protection against the development of these
chronic illnesses. One of the newest areas of research—the role
of gut microbiota in promoting or suppressing disease—hints that
curcumin can change our gut microbiome in ways that have
positive effects on the entire body and the mind. Beyond its two
primary effects, curcumin also has antiseptic, anti-viral and
anti-cancer properties. It has the potential to modulate the
over-aggressive immune response some COVID-19 patients
experience (the so-called “cytokine storm”) as well. Researchers
are looking at it as both a preventative and a therapy for
COVID-19.
Effect of moderate exercises and curcumin on hepatic
transcriptional factors associated with lipid metabolism and
steatosis in elderly male rat
Integrative/Functional Medicine | July 2021
Moderate aerobic
exercise and curcumin alone or in combination completely masked
this effect. Conclusion and implications: The findings revealed
dyslipidemia and liver steatosis related to aging might be
partly associated with changes in hepatic transcriptional
factors which can be mitigatedmoderate aerobic exercise and
curcumin.
Promising
role of curcumin against viral diseases emphasizing COVID-19
management
Journal of Functional Foods
| July 2021
Curcumin has already acknowledged
immense interest from both medical and scientific research
because of its multifaceted activity. To date, the promising
effects of curcumin were perceived against numerous inflammatory
diseases. Besides, curcumin’s role as a medicine has been
studied in many virus infections like influenza and HIV. The
popular use of curcumin in research is mainly due to its
pleiotropic properties including anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant
and anti-carcinogenic activities (Ahmad et al., 2020). Curcumin
can inhibit the inflammatory mediators, oxidation processes, and
oxidative stress thereby acts as an anti-inflammatory agent
against many diseases (Wal et al., 2019). Praditya et al.
(2019b) have shown curcumin as an anti-bacterial agent against
several strains of Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Helicobacter
and Pseudomonas mainly by growth inhibition. They also reported
the anti-fungal property of curcumin. Different studies
identified the efficacy of curcumin against Human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Herpes simplex virus (HSV),
Hepatitis viruses etc. (Praditya et al., 2019a, Prasad and
Tyagi, 2015, Vitali et al., 2020). Although there are some
controversies, the majority of the studies support the potential
role of curcumin in inhibiting viral replication and growth
inhibition (Mathew & Hsu, 2018). Apart from these, long-term
intake of curcumin can improve systolic blood pressure (Hadi et
al., 2019), control obesity (Jarząb & Kukula-Koch, 2019), Type 2
Diabetes Mellitus (Pivari et al., 2019). Also, curcumin often
acts as a cardio-protective, nephroprotective, anti-neoplastic,
hepato-protective and anti-rheumatic compound. While the entire
world is putting efforts into the discovery of a vaccine against
coronavirus infection, the antiviral potential of curcumin
against SARS-CoV-2 shows a promising role in COVID-19
management. Since ancient time, curcumin possesses a
multifaceted role in several disease management. As an antiviral
agent, existing literature suggested that targeting viral
lifecycle and cellular responses are important strategies to
combat viral infection. The present review emphasized the
molecular mechanism of host-pathogen interaction and subsequent
immune response in the host. In this background, curcumin can
potentially inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 entry within human mainly by
blocking the ACE2 receptor, hinder viral genome replication by
altering viral non-structural protein activity. Not only viral
entry, curcumin indeed can prohibit ‘cytokine storm’-induced
multi-organ failure by constraining the inflammatory response
and other cellular immune response.
Curcumin inhibits the viability, migration and
invasion of papillary thyroid cancer cells
Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine | July 2021
Curcumin is
a main phenolic active compound in C. Longa Linn, and it has
numerous pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory,
antibacterial and, especially, anticancer activities. The
anticancer effects of curcumin are due to targeting a wide range
of cellular and molecular pathways involved in cancer
pathogenesis. For example, curcumin has been revealed to induce
endoplasmic reticulum stress-associated apoptosis in human PTC
cells via disruption of intracellular calcium homeostasis and to
affect PTC cells by targeting the JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway.
In summary, curcumin suppressed the cell viability, migration,
invasion and EMT of TPC-1 cells. Moreover, curcumin treatment
increased miR-301a-3p expression and inhibited STAT3 expression.
Overexpression of miR-301a-3p inhibited cell viability,
migration, invasion, and EMT and the JAK/STAT signaling pathway
by targeting STAT3, and miR-301a-3p inhibitors and STAT3
overexpression reversed the curcumin-induced cell viability,
migration, invasion and EMT of TPC-1 cells. Collectively,
curcumin played an anticancer role in TPC-1 cells by regulating
miR-301a-3p/STAT3, indicating that curcumin is a promising
oncotherapeutic agent. These findings may provide a possible
strategy for the clinical treatment of PTC.
Curcumin modulates gut microbiota and improves renal
function in rats with uric acid nephropathy
Renal Failure | July 2021
Curcumin is a natural phenolic
compound derived from the rhizome of the plant curcuma longa,
and it is the main ingredient of turmeric. A large number of
studies have confirmed that curcumin exerts a wide range of
biological effects, including anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory,
anti-oxidation, and anti-fibrosis. Based on the above
pharmacological effects, there have been many animal experiments
and cellular experiments using curcumin to prevent and treat
various kidney diseases in recent years, and even a few
preliminary reports on the clinical application of curcumin in
the treatment of renal diseases. Moreover, curcumin has also
been shown to have the effects of regulating intestinal flora
and improving gut barrier function in multiple diseases, like
diabetes, ulcerative colitis, and colorectal cancer. Curcumin
treatment protected against the overgrowth of opportunistic
pathogens in UAN, including Escherichia-Shigella and
Bacteroides, and increased the relative abundance of
bacteria producing short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs), such as
Lactobacillus and Ruminococcaceae. These results
suggest that curcumin could modulate gut microbiota, fortify the
intestinal barrier, attenuate metabolic endotoxemia, and
consequently protect the renal function.
Anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin in acute lung
injury
International Immunopharmacology |
July 2021
Curcumin specifically promotes SIRT1 and inhibit
NLRP3 inflammasome activation in vitro and in vivo. Curcumin’s
inhibition of ferroptosis can be offset by the EX527 (inhibitor
of Sirt1). Curcumin reduces pyroptosis by inhibiting the
expression of NLRP3. In conclusion, curcumin has protective
effect against acute lung injury. It may inhibit inflammatory
process by inhibiting the activation of NLRP3
inflammasome-dependent pyroptosis through the up-regulation of
SIRT1.
A Novel Potent Sleep-Promoting Effect of Turmeric
Molecular Nutrition & Food Research | June 2021
Turmeric
extract has a sleep-promoting effect owing to reduction in sleep
latency and enhancement of NREMS via H1R blockade; therefore, it
could be useful in insomnia.
Curcumin inhibits classical swine fever virus
replication
Microbiology | June 2021
Previous reports have shown that Curcumin inhibits many
viruses, including some important members of different genera of
Flaviviridae family (Japanese encephalitis virus, dengue virus
and hepatitis C virus). Curcumin inhibited classical swine fever
virus replication by interfere lipid metabolism. In addition,
our subsequent studies found that curcumin played an antiviral
role by promoting the innate immune independent of NF-κB
signaling pathway. Taken together, our finding highlights that
curcumin is a potential candidate drug against classical swine
fever virus for controlling classical swine fever.
Curcumin reverses doxorubicin resistance in colon
cancer cells at the metabolic level
Journal
of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis | June 2021
Natural
product curcumin was demonstrated to have a variety of
pharmacological effects, such as anti-tumor, anti-oxidation and
anti-aging activities. Curcumin increased the cytotoxicity
of Dox in SW620/Ad300 cells. Curcumin reduced the biosynthesis
of polyamine and D-glutamine metabolism to reverse MDR. Curcumin
inhibited the ODC expression, thererby decreasing the
biosynthesis of polyamine. Curcumin could be a promising
multidrug-resitance reversal agent for cancer treatment.
Curcumin suppresses the malignancy of non-small cell lung cancer
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy | June 2021
Curcumin
exerts a suppressive effect in tumor growth by acting as a
modulator of multiple molecular targets. Curcumin, a
traditional herbal medicine, is discovered in Curcuma longa. It
is a polyphenol and has many activities, including controlling
diabetes, improving brain function, oxidation,
anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and so on. It has been reported
that curcumin plays an important role in various cell signal
transduction by acting as a modulator of multiple molecular
targets. Also, curcumin plays a repressive role in the
advancement of NSCLC. Zhang et al. manifested that curcumin
synergistically constrained cell malignancy. Furthermore,
curcumin played an anti-tumor activity in NSCLC cells. Curcumin
has attracted the attention of scientific researchers all over
the world because of its anti-cancer potential. Accumulated
studies have revealed that curcumin can target cell signaling
pathways related to cancer development. For example, curcumin
elevated miR-99a expression in retinoblastoma cells, thereby
blocking the JAK/STAT pathway and repressed cell malignancy.
Moreover, curcumin inhibited the proliferation of glioblastoma
cells via blocking the AKT/mTOR pathway. Recent research
revealed that curcumin elevated nasopharyngeal cancer
radio-sensitization through regulating the circRNA/miR/mRNA
network. Herein, we discovered that curcumin curbed the
malignancy of NSCLC cells through repressing the
circ-PRKCA/miR-384/ITGB1 pathway.
Curcumin and rheumatoid arthritis: A systematic review
of literature
International Journal of
Clinical Practice | June 2021
Curcumin is a natural
polyphenol and the main compound from the rhizome of Turmeric
(Curcuma longa) and other Curcuma species. It has been widely
used for different medical purposes, such as improvement of pain
and inflammatory conditions in various diseases. Most studies
have shown the curative effects of curcumin on clinical and
inflammatory parameters of RA and reported different mechanisms;
inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase family,
extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase, activator
protein-1 and nuclear factor kappa B are the main mechanisms
associated with the anti-inflammatory function of curcumin in
RA. The results of the only human study showed that curcumin
significantly improved morning stiffness, walking time and joint
swelling. In conclusion, curcumin seems to be useful, and it is
recommended that more human studies be performed to approve the
cellular and animal results and determine the effective and
optimal doses of curcumin on RA patients.
The efficacy and safety of Curcuma longa Extract and
curcumin supplements on osteoarthritis: a systematic review and
meta-analysis
Bioscience Reports | June
2021
Curcuma longa Extract and curcumin may be a safer and
effective supplement for osteoarthritis patients. It is
recommended to use Curcuma longa Extract and curcumin supplement
for osteoarthritis patients for more than 12 weeks. Curcumin is
a natural active oxygen scavenger and active nitrogen provider,
and has been proven to be effective in treating pain caused by
arthritis and osteoarthritis. Compared with NSAIDs, Curcuma
longa Extract and curcumin have similar effects on joint pain,
function and stiffness. However, the incidence of adverse events
in Curcuma longa Extract and curcumin was lower. Compared
with the NSAIDs group, Curcuma longa Extract and curcumin+NSAIDs
can also relieve pain (decrease the VAS and WOMAC score-pain),
improve the joint function (decrease the WOMAC score-function),
and improve the joint stiffness (decrease the WOMAC
score-stiffness); in terms of adverse events, the addition of
Curcuma longa Extract and curcumin to NSAIDs did not increase
adverse events. Our meta-analysis also showed that Curcuma longa
Extract and curcumin can improve oxidative stress in patients
with osteoarthritis. Our meta-analysis shows that the
combination of Curcumin and NSAIDs does not increase the
occurrence of adverse events and has better efficacy. This is a
promising result, because adding Curcumin supplementation in the
case of using NSAIDs may increase the efficacy and perhaps
reduce the dosage of NSAIDs.
Study presents evidence supporting the use of
curcumin as alternative treatment for kidney fibrosis
The Gary Null Show | June 2021
Curcumin is an effective
alternative treatment for renal fibrosis According to several
animal studies, curcumin can protect the kidneys by preventing
the development of renal fibrosis. The researchers found that
curcumin (3.125 and 25?micromol/L) effectively promoted HKC
proliferation. After 72 hours of incubating HKCs with TGF-B1 and
curcumin, curcumin caused the cells to maintain epithelial
morphology in a dose-dependent manner. It also decreased the
expression of EMT-related proteins, such as vimentin, a-SMA and
FSP1, and increased the expression of E-cadherin and
cytokeratin. In addition, the researchers noted that curcumin
reduced Akt, mTOR and P70S6K phosphorylation, which effectively
suppressed the activation of the Akt/mTOR pathway in HKCs. Based
on these findings, the researchers concluded that curcumin is an
effective alternative treatment for renal fibrosis because it
can promote HKC proliferation and stop EMT by inhibiting the
activation of the Akt/mTOR pathway activity.
The Role of Curcumin in Gastrointestinal Cancers
Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology |
June 2021
Curcumin has been used in combinations with many
anti-tumor drugs to increase their anticarcinogenic properties.
Taken together, curcumin falls within the category of
plant-derived substances capable of preventing or treating
gastrointestinal cancers. Curcumin is a natural compound derived
from turmeric with a wide range of biological activities.
Several in vitro and in vivo studies have investigated the
effects of curcumin on gastrointestinal cancers. In the current
review, we aimed to provide an updated summary on the recent
findings regarding the beneficial effects of curcumin on
different gastrointestinal cancers in the recent decade. For
this purpose, ScienceDirect,” “Google Scholar,” “PubMed,” “ISI
Web of Knowledge,” and “Wiley Online Library” databases were
searched using “curcumin”, “cancer”, and “gastrointestinal
organs” as keywords. In vitro studies performed on different
gastrointestinal cancerous cell lines have shown that curcumin
can inhibit cell growth through cycle arrest at the G2/M and G1
phases, as well as stimulated apoptosis and autophagy by
interacting with multiple molecular targets. In vivo studies
performed in various animal models have confirmed mainly the
chemopreventive effects of curcumin.
Effect of eight-week curcumin supplementation with
endurance training on glycemic indexes in middle age women with
type 2 diabetes
Diabetes & Metabolic
Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews | June 2021
Eight weeks
of curcumin supplementation and endurance training, whether done
separately or simultaneously, significantly reduced fasting
blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin and serum insulin levels
(P < 0.05). The combination of curcumin supplementation and
endurance training compared to the other two interventions
caused a significant further decrease in these glycemic indexes
(P < 0.05). The findings of this study showed that eight weeks
of curcumin supplementation and endurance training helped each
other in improving the glycemic indexes of women with type 2
diabetes.
The protective effect of curcumin on rats with
DSS-induced ulcerative colitis and its mechanisms
Research Square | May 2021
Curcumin is a traditional Chinese
herbal medicine that is used for anti-inflammation in China and
Southeast Asia. Curcumin has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory,
anticancer and antiapoptotic properties. The advantages of
curcumin, such as few adverse reactions, high levels of safety,
and good compliance, have attracted the attention of many
researchers. Studies have shown that curcumin can reduce airway
inflammation by regulating the balance of Treg/Th17 cells in
asthma models. In IBD model mice with genetic deletion of IL-10,
an emulsion of curcumin in sodium carboxymethyl cellulose
induced anti-inflammatory effects. The curcumin group exhibited
significantly reduced DAI scores and improvements in
histopathological damage. The expression of CD4+IL-17+ Th17
cells was significantly lower and the expression of
CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg cells was significantly higher in the
curcumin group than in the DSS group. Curcumin may be a
new and effective treatment for IBD by regulating the balance of
Treg/Th17 cells and the expression of IL-10 and IL-17A. The
present study showed that compared with those of IBD rats in the
DSS group, IL-10 levels of IBD rats in the curcumin group were
significantly higher. Therefore, the protective effect of
curcumin was related to IL-10. In summary, curcumin attenuated
colonic tissue damage in DSS-induced UC rats by improving the
Treg/Th17 cell balance and influencing the expression of
inflammatory cytokines.
Curcumin promotes cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of
acute myeloid leukemia cells
Oncology Reports | May 2021
Curcumin, a phytochemical from
rhizomes of the plant Curcuma longa, has been reported to exert
potential anticancer properties in various cancer types,
including acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Collectively, the
present study demonstrated that curcumin exerted anti-AML roles
by inactivating AKT and these findings may aid in the treatment
of AML.
Effects of curcumin supplementation on sport and
physical exercise
Critical Reviews in Food
Science and Nutrition | May 2021
Curcumin supplementation
displayed significant reductionof inflammation derived from the
physical exercise. After curcumin supplementation there was a
significantimprovement in some aspects of muscle recovery and
performance in exercise. Curcumin has recently drawn worldwide
attention ofresearchers (Salehi et al.2019), who conducted
studies thatindicated that its medicinal properties are
associated withthe reduction of pain (Karlapudi et al.2018; Sun
et al.2018), anti-inflammatory effects (Ghandadi and
Sahebkar2017; Mollazadeh et al.2019), besides prevention and
treat-ment of cardiovascular (Li et al.2020; Momtazi-Borojeniet
al.2019) and gastrointestinal (GI) diseases (Ghosh et al.2018;
Mazieiro et al.2018), cancer (Kunnumakkara et al.2017; Mizumoto
et al.2019; Talib et al.2018) and otherchronic diseases (Kunwar
and Priyadarsini2016; Prasadet al.2014; Salehi et al.2019;
Sharan Patel et al.2019).Also, studies that employed animal
models reportedpositive results of curcumin supplementation for
physicalactivity and sport performance (Huang et al.2015),
thussupporting muscle recovery and reduction of
inflammation(Davis et al.2007), improvement of mitochondrial
biogen-esis (Ray Hamidie et al.2015), reduction of oxidative
stress(Kawanishi et al.2013), prevention of fatigue and
muscledamage (Huang et al.2015; Sahin et al.2016). The
evidences presented indicate that cur-cumin supplementation in
human beings is likely safe andbeneficial for sport and physical
activity, due to the reduction of inflammation and oxidative
stress, reduction of painand muscle damage, improved muscle
recovery, sport performance, psychological and physiological
responses (thermal and cardiovascular) during training, as well
as the GI function.
Role of Curcumin in Regulating Long Noncoding RNA
Expression in Cancer
Advances in
Experimental Medicine and Biology | May 2021
Phytochemicals
are various compounds produced by plants. There is growing
evidence on their potential health effects. Some of these
compounds are considered as traditional medicines and used as
painkillers, anti-inflammatory agents, and for other
applications. One of these phytochemicals is curumin, a natural
polyphenol derived from the turmeric plant (Curcuma longa L.).
Curcumin is widely used as a food coloring, preservative and
condiment. It has also been shown to have antioxidative and
anti-inflammatory effects. Moreover, there is growing evidence
that curcumin alters long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in many kinds
of cancer. These noncoding RNAs can cause epigenetic modulation
in the expression of several genes. This study reviews reports
of curcumin effects on lncRNAs in lung, prostate, colorectal,
breast, pancreatic, renal, gastric, and ovarian cancers.
The effect of curcumin and zinc co-supplementation
on glycemic parameters in overweight or obese prediabetic
subjects
Phytotherapy Research | May 2021
Curcumin and zinc have been studied as an antioxidant,
antiinflammatory, and antidiabetic agents. Based on these
results, zinc and curcumin supplementation exerted a beneficial
effect on several key glycemic parameters.
Curcumin Reduces Neuroinflammation and Improves the
Impairments of Anesthetics on Learning and Memory
Neuroimmunomodulation | May 2021
Curcumin has a protective effect
on ISO-induced cognitive dysfunction, which may be achieved by
regulating the expression of miR-181a-5p.
Curcumin: A small molecule with big functionality
against amyloid aggregation in neurodegenerative diseases and
type 2 diabetes
BioFactors | May 2021
Polyphenolic phytochemicals such as
curcumin and its derivatives have anti‐amyloid effects both in
vitro and in animal models; however, the underlying mechanisms
are not understood. In this review, we summarized possible
mechanisms by which curcumin could interfere with self‐assembly
processes and reduce amyloid aggregation in amyloidosis.
Furthermore, we discuss clinical trials in which curcumin is
used as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of diseases
linking to protein aggregates.
Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Curcumin on Rheumatoid
Arthritis
Pharmaceuticals | May 2021
Recent studies reveal that curcumin, a natural dietary
anti-inflammatory compound, can modulate the response of the
cells engaging in RA course. Interestingly, many studies have
described the potential role of curcumin as an epigenetic
modifier. This potent herbal drug has been identified as an
inhibitor of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), regulator of
histone acetyltransferases (HATs), deacetylases (HDACs), and
microRNAs, as well as a DNA binding agent. Curcumin has been
found to significantly reduce H3ac levels in the IL-6 promoter
as well as IL-6 mRNA expression in rheumatoid arthritis synovial
fibroblasts (RASFs). The role of curcumin as an epigenetic
modifier has been well documented in cancer, neurological
disorders, and some inflammatory diseases. Curcumin is a
polyphenolic substance naturally occurring in turmeric,
especially in Curcuma Longa, with broad anti-inflammatory
properties and proven positive effects in autoimmunological
disease therapies, including Rheumatoid Arthritis. Curcumin is
an antioxidant, which means it can efficiently reduce the level
of reactive oxygen species (ROS), weaken redox signaling, and
reduce inflammation [22]. In addition to having direct
antioxidant properties, curcumin also blocks the activity of
ROS-generating enzymes like lipoxygenase (LOX), cyclooxygenase
(COX), xanthine dehydrogenase, and nitric oxide synthase (iNOS).
Despite reducing ROS levels, curcumin also possesses numerous
other properties that enable its usage as a potential
therapeutic drug targeted against Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Interesting insights into this matter are provided by recent
studies, which found that this natural compound can suppress
proinflammatory pathways related to the immune cells crucial in
RA development. Therefore, curcumin’s daily consumption can
decrease inflammation and oxidative stress, contributing to the
immune system’s modulation and alleviating the rheumatoid
arthritis course.
Curcumin and cancer biology: Focusing regulatory effects in
different signalling pathways
Phytotherapy
Research | May 2021
Curcumin is a bright yellow substance
isolated from the plant rhizomes of Curcuma longa L. To this
molecule a high therapeutic benefit has been underlined, being
able to alter the development of cancer by different mechanisms,
such as regulating multiple microRNA expression, modifying a
series of signalling pathways, that is, Akt, Bcl‐2, PTEN, p53,
Notch, and Erbb. Another major pathway that curcumin targets is
the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) gene expression. In this
review, we have attempted to describe the curcumin regulatory
effect on different cell signalling pathways involved in the
progression of different types of cancers.
Curcumin prevents obesity by targeting TRAF4‐induced
ubiquitylation in m6A‐dependent manner
EMBO
Reports | May 2021
Curcumin, a natural polyphenolic compound
present in turmeric, has been shown to have a protective effect
on against obesity and metabolic diseases. m6A‐dependent TRAF4
expression upregulation by ALKBH5 and YTHDF1 contributes to
curcumin‐induced obesity prevention. Our findings provide
mechanistic insights into how m6A is involved in the
anti‐obesity effect of curcumin.
Curcumin alleviates high-fat diet-induced hepatic steatosis and
obesity in association with modulation of gut microbiota in mice
Food Research International | May 2021
Curcumin alleviated hepatic steatosis and insulin
resistance in obese mice. Curcumin increased abundance of
Bacteroides, Parabacteroides, Alistipes and Alloprevotella.
Curcumin increased the caecal and colonic short chain fatty
acids (SCFA) contents. Curcumin reduced endotoxin-producing
Desulfovibrio bacteria and circulating serum LPS. The dominant
bacterial taxa altered by curcumin were related with improvement of
obesity.
The Effects of Curcumin on Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic
Review
Frontiers in Endocrinology | May
2021
The genus Curcuma
(Zingiberaceae) includes perennial rhizomatous plants
native to subtropical to tropical regions. The main part of the
plant is the rhizomes, and the most prevalent active components
are the curcuminoids (curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and
bisdemethoxycurcumin). Curcuminoids are nontoxic polyphenolic
that exerts a wide range of biological activities, such as the
production of significant immunosuppressants that inhibit the
production of IL-2 and IL-12. This compound inhibits the
expression of iNOS (inducible nitric oxide synthase), COX-2
(cyclooxygenase-2), lipoxygenase-5, and many other
pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6, and IL-8.
Curcuminoids can also regulate apoptosis and suppress neurotoxic
factors in macrophages and alveolar monocytes stimulated by
lipopolysaccharides. Besides, it inhibits phosphorylation and
degradation of IκBα (nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide
gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor, alpha) and activates the γ
receptor mechanism activated by peroxisome proliferator,
reducing inflammation pattern induced by NF-κB pathway. The
peculiar characteristics that attract scientists’ attention are
the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities and the safety
of its pharmacological profile. The mechanism of action in
several molecular pathways is due to curcumin’s particular
chemical structure, capable of having many molecular targets.
The biological effects may include the inhibition of reactive
oxygen species (ROS) production, playing a fundamental role,
particularly for diseases related to oxidative stress and
inflammation, such as DM. Figure 3 shows some systemic effects
of curcumin. Curcumin is a bioactive component found Curcuma
longa, which exhibits several physiological and pharmacological
properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer,
neuroprotective, and anti-diabetic activities. For these
reasons, our objective is to systematically review the effects
of Curcuma longa or curcumin on DM. Databases such as
PUBMED and EMBASE were searched, and the final selection
included sixteen studies that fulfilled the inclusion criteria.
The results showed that curcumin’s anti-diabetic activity might
be due to its capacity to suppress oxidative stress and
inflammatory process. Also, it significantly reduces fasting
blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, and body mass index. The
singular characteristic of this plant is the presence of
curcumin, which shows antioxidant and anti-inflammatory
properties. Besides that, curcumin has a potential role in
preventing and treating several diseases due to various actions
such as anti-bacterial, anti-diabetic, anti-viral, and
anticancer activities. Curcuminoids have been shown to improve
insulin resistance, decrease glucose and insulin levels,
increase adiponectin release, and reduce the levels of leptin,
resistin, interleukin (IL)-6 IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-α
in patients with T2DM. These findings suggest that these
compounds can affect glucose homeostasis and diabetic
complications, and the vascular risk of patients with T2DM. Some
studies have shown that supplementation of curcuminoids improves
the lipid profile and increases the total antioxidant capacity
of patients with T2DM, thus supporting other available evidence
on the role of curcuminoids in modifying cardiometabolic risks.
Possible Mechanisms and Special Clinical
Considerations of Curcumin Supplementation in Patients with
COVID-19
Advances
in Experimental Medicine and Biology | May 2021
Mechanisms
and special clinical considerations of supplementation with
curcumin as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compound in the
setting of COVID-19 clinical research.
Anticancer
Mechanism of Curcumin on Human Glioblastoma
Nutrients | May 2021
Curcumin is the most studied
compound described as a potential anticancer agent due to its
multi-targeted signaling/molecular pathways properties. Curcumin
possesses the ability to modulate the core pathways involved in
GBM cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, autophagy,
paraptosis, oxidative stress, and tumor cell motility. This
review discusses curcumin's anticancer mechanism through
modulation of Rb, p53, MAPK, P13K/Akt, JAK/STAT, Shh, and NF-κB
pathways, which are commonly involved and dysregulated in
preclinical and clinical GBM models.
Micronutrients and bioactive substances: Their
potential roles in combating COVID-19
Nutrition | April 2021
A study has shown that curcumin
interfered with the binding of enveloped viruses to cell
surface. Derivatives of curcumin exhibited antiviral activity
against enveloped viruses. Direct treatment of a virus with
curcumin reduced the infectivity of the virus in a
dose–time-dependent manner for enveloped viruses, as well as the
vesicular stomatitis virus. Curcumin also exhibited antiviral
properties against dengue virus and hepatitis C virus. Having
immunomodulating, antiinflammatory, antioxidant, and antiviral
properties, such micronutrients and bioactive substances are
consequently promising alterative nutritional approaches to
combat COVID-19 infection.
Curcumin suppresses colorectal cancer stem cells
Journal of Natural Medicines | April 2021
Curcumin is a polyphenol extracting from
Curcuma longa. It has been demonstrated that curcumin
possesses extensive therapeutic activities against multiple
ailments, such as inflammation, metabolic syndrome, liver
disease, arthritis, and neurodegenerative disease. In the recent
years, researchers found that curcumin has played an important
role in cancer prevention and treatment. For instance, curcumin
induced apoptosis of castration-resistant prostate cancer cells,
partially dependent on its iron-chelating properties; curcumin
could overcome gefitinib-resistance in nonsmall-cell lung cancer
cells via inducing autophagy-related cell death. Other studies
indicated curcumin suppressed oncogenicity of human colon cancer
cells, through covalent modification of SIRT1 at the cysteine 67
residue and the proteasomal degradation of oncogenic SIRT1. In
this study, we observed that curcumin inhibited tumorsphere
formation, decreased cell viability in a dose-dependent manner.
Curcumin also promoted apoptosis of LGR5(+) colorectal CSCs. In
addition, curcumin can induce autophagy in many tumor cells. For
example, curcumin inhibited proliferation, induced the autophagy
and apoptosis in gastric cancer cells. Similarly, our data
suggest that curcumin increased tumor cell death partly by
inducing autophagy, because the effect of curcumin-induced cell
proliferation inhibition was decreased by co-treatment with the
autophagy inhibitor, HCQ. Therefore, these results reveal that
curcumin-induced autophagy may contribute to the antitumor
effects of curcumin on LGR5(+) colorectal CSCs. In
summary, we found that curcumin suppresses the proliferation of
LGR5(+) colorectal CSCs by inducing autophagy and
transcriptionally repressing the oncogenic TFAP2A-mediated ECM
pathway. Lastly, while our study entailed mostly in vitro
experiments, further studies, especially in vivo, are needed to
understand the mechanism of effect of curcumin in LGR5(+)
colorectal CSCs and to evaluate this potential therapeutic
approach to CRC. In addition, the correlation between
TFAP2A-mediated ECM pathway and autophagy also deserves further
study.
Beneficial Effects of Curcumin Supplementation on Sports
Performance and Physical Exercise
Designs
For Health | April 2021
Turmeric has three main bioactive
components: curcumin, desmethoxycurcumin, and
bisdemethoxycurcumin. These curcuminoids have many biological
effects, including properties that are anti-inflammatory,
antioxidant, anti-tumor, antimicrobial, and antiviral. This
review investigated the evidence for the effects of curcumin
supplementation for humans on sports performance and physical
exercise. Curcumin possesses the ability to inhibit
transcription factors (e.g., nuclear factor [NF]-κβ) that are
responsible for activating pro-inflammatory enzyme and cytokine
expression, such as cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, 5-lipoxygenase
(LOX-5), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1,
IL-6, and IL-8, suggesting their importance in helping to reduce
post-exercise inflammation. The treatment groups with doses
ranging from 180 mg to 5 g of curcumin per day showed
significant reductions in inflammation caused by physical
exercise compared to the placebo group, whose participants
displayed elevated IL receptor agonist activity of IL-6, IL-8,
and IL-10, and TNF-α concentrations. Compared to the treatment
group, a gastrointestinal (GI) barrier damage marker (fatty
acid−binding protein) was elevated after aerobic exercise in the
placebo group, suggesting curcumin may improve GI function
during exercise-induced exertional heat stress. Overall, the
results of this systematic review showed positive effects with
no adverse symptoms or injuries reported. Curcumin
supplementation improved exercise-induced muscle recovery,
muscle performance, psychological and physiological parameters,
function, and reduced inflammation, oxidative stress, pain, and
muscle damage caused by aerobic and resistance training.
Although larger clinical trials are needed, the evidence
suggests that curcumin supplementation may be a safe and
effective option for supporting sports and exercise performance
in humans.
Curcumin suppresses colorectal tumorigenesis
Oncology Letters | April 2021
Curcumin, a natural product
extracted from the rhizome of Curcuma longa, is a drug
with strong pharmacological effects and limited side effects.
Increasing evidence have confirmed that curcumin exerts
antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferation
and anticancer effects. Furthermore, curcuminoids have been
approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as
‘Generally Recognized As Safe’ (GRAS) and clinical trials have
demonstrated good tolerability and safety profiles, at doses
between 4,000–8,000 mg/day. In another phase I clinical trial,
curcumin (at doses 0.45–3.6 g) was administered to 15 patients
with advanced CRC who were resistant to chemotherapy for 4
months. The results demonstrated that treatment with curcumin was
well tolerated and there was no toxicity at any doses. Previous
studies have reported several molecular mechanisms for the
anticancer effects of curcumin . For example, curcumin inhibits
Axin2 expression in the colorectal cancer line, HCT116, and
modulates the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Yan et al
demonstrated that Axin2 is upregulated and the Wnt/β-catenin
signaling pathway is activated in human colon tumor samples. It
has also been reported that curcumin can target colorectal stem
cells via the Wnt pathway to inhibit their proliferation and
drug resistance to chemotherapy, indicating the important role
of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in the tumorigenesis of
CRC. Another study demonstrated that curcumin inhibits the
proliferation and induces apoptosis of human non-small cell lung
cancer cells via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Furthermore,
the results of a squamous cell carcinoma study reported that
curcumin inhibits cancer cell proliferation via the epidermal
growth factor receptor signaling pathway. In addition to the
effects of curcumin on CRC progression through the
NBR2/AMPK/mTOR pathway, curcumin regulates the NF-κB and Src
protein kinase signaling pathways by inhibiting IκBα kinase
activation and IκBα phosphorylation. Collectively, these results
indicate several molecular mechanisms of the anticancer effects
of curcumin in vitro. However, the in vivo mechanism remains to
be elucidated. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the
anticancer effects of curcumin and determine its underlying
mechanisms in CRC, in vivo.
Protective Effects of Curcumin on Sperm and
Stereological Parameters in Testes of Formaldehyde-Exposed NMRI
Mice: An Experimental Study
International Journal of Medical Laboratory | April 2021
Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is the main curcuminoid of
turmeric, which is a known spice. It has been shown that
curcuminoids are polyphenols and are responsible for the
yellow-orange color of turmeric. Noorafshan and colleagues
previously showed that curcumin protects the Leydig cells
against metronidazole treatments. In another study, curcumin
reduced testicular damage in diabetic rats by reducing oxidative
stress.Moreover, Farombi et al. used curcumin to prevent
oxidative changes and enhance sperm motility and reduce sperm
abnormalities. This study showed that curcumin could reduce
formaldehyde-induced damage to the testis structure and sperm
parameters, possibly by inhibiting oxygen free radicals’
production.These results suggest that curcumin is a potential
therapeutic agent on spermatogenesis caused by a testicular
injury triggered by FA in mice.
Antiviral activities of curcumin and 6‐gingerol
against infection of four dengue virus
Indonesian Journal of Biotechnology | April 2021
The compound
curcumin showed antiviral properties as described. In
conclusion, curcumin and 6‐gingerol exhibit antiviral properties
against DENV infection and could provide a new therapeutic
approach for dengue disease treatment strategies.
Telomerase: A Target for Therapeutic Effects of
Curcumin in Cancer
Advances in Experimental
Medicine and Biology | April 2021
Curcumin has been shown to
be effective against several types of malignancies and has also
been shown to have inhibitory effects on telomerase activity.
Based on the findings obtained from the different studies here,
we conclude that the telomerase inhibitory effects of curcumin
are integral to its anticancer activity, and thus curcumin may
be useful therapeutically in the cancer field.
Curcumin as Anti-infective Agents
Current Medicinal Chemistry | April 2021
Curcumin, a
redox-active natural product, has for centuries been used in
Asian traditional medicine for the treatment of various
diseases. It is known for possessing multiple biological and
pharmacological activities. Curcumin has been investigated
extensively over the years for its anti-inflammatory,
anticancer, antiparasitic, antiviral and antibacterial
activities, and no toxicity is associated with the compound.
Curcumin is still in clinical trials for the treatment of
diseases, such as tuberculosis, acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome (AIDS), Crohn’s disease, colorectal cancer and multiple
myeloma, among many others as potential antibacterial,
antifungal, antiparasitic and antiviral agents for the treatment
of various infectious diseases.
The Antioxidant Effect of Curcumin and Rutin on Oxidative
Stress Biomarkers
Molecules | April 2021
Curcumin, from the root of the turmeric plant Curcuma longa, is
an extended pseudosymmetric polyphenol (diferuloylmethane). Zhou
et al. showed that curcumin prevents bone loss in an
experimental periodontitis model. In association with studies
that do demonstrate an effect on the prevention of bone loss,
these investigations have shown that curcumin has a profound
effect on inflammation by significantly reducing the development
of an inflammatory infiltrates within the periodontal lesion
while simultaneously stimulating an increase in the collagen
content, as well as an increase in the number of fibroblastic
cells within the periodontium and associated lesions when
curcumin was administered daily to rats with experimentally
induced periodontitis. Curcumin, the major component of
turmeric, has been shown to have anti-inflammatory,
antimicrobial and antioxidant action. In vitro studies, animal
studies and clinical studies have demonstrated that there is a
positive association between curcumin and the evolution of
periodontitis. It can be concluded that the oral administration
of curcumin and rutin, single or combined, could reduce
oxidative stress both in gingival tissue and blood and enhance
the antioxidant status in hyperglycemic periodontitis rats.
Modeling oxidative stress, these two antioxidants may have an
inhibitory effect on inflammation.
Curcumin induces ferroptosis in non‐small‐cell lung
cancer
Thoracic Cancer | April 2021
Emerging studies showed curcumin can inhibit glioblastoma and
breast cancer cells via regulating ferroptosis. Curcumin is a
yellow polyphenol compound derived from the turmeric plant,
which shows anticancer properties through a variety of
mechanisms, including inhibition of tumor proliferation,
invasion and metastases, regulation of apoptosis, and autophagy.
Recent studies showed that curcumin can treat glioblastoma and
breast cancer via regulating ferroptosis. In conclusion, our
results provide evidence that curcumin could induce ferroptotic
cell death of NSCLC cells via activating autophagy.
Curcumin Ameliorated Oxidative Stress and
Inflammation-Related Muscle Disorders
Antioxidants | April 2021
Curcumin has also been reported to
possess diverse pharmacological effects including antioxidant
and anti-inflammatory activities. Recently, it has been
suggested that curcumin alleviated chronic kidney
disease-induced muscle atrophy by inhibiting glycogen synthase
kinase (GSK)-3β. The present study demonstrated that
curcumin in C2C12 myoblast cells showed in vitro
antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Specifically,
curcumin enhanced DPPH radical scavenging activity in a
dose-dependent manner, and it did not affect the cell viability
of C2C12 cells with concentrations up to 30 μg/mL. Furthermore,
curcumin significantly suppressed H2O2-induced cell toxicity,
ROS generation, and lipid peroxidation and restored GSH
depletion, which involved an increase of antioxidant genes
through Nrf2 activation, providing evidence that curcumin can
protect cells by reducing oxidative stress. Besides, curcumin
significantly inhibited LPS-mediated IL-6 productions.
Therefore, curcumin could be a useful candidate against
oxidative stress and inflammation-related muscle disorders.
Curcumin Reduces Cognitive Deficits by Inhibiting
Neuroinflammation
ACS Omega | April
2021
Curcumin is a polyphenolic substance extracted from
turmeric, a plant of the curcuma family. Toxicity studies have
shown that it is quite safe even at high doses (up to 12 g in
humans). Curcumin’s pharmacological action is exerted at
multiple sites, including enzymes, transcription factors, growth
factors, neurotransmitter receptors, inflammatory mediators, and
a large number of protein kinases. It has anti-inflammatory,
antitumor, antioxidative, and antibacterial effects. Curcumin
has been used as a condiment in food in Southeast Asia for
centuries. According to the initial epidemiological analysis of
the Indian population, curcumin has a strong potential to treat
Alzheimer’s disease. The incidence of Alzheimer’s disease was
4.4-fold lower in long-term curcumin users than those without
curcumin in the United States. Curcumin, as an effective
anti-inflammatory small molecule, was shown to inhibit the COX-2
expression in human colon cancer cells. Recently, Wang et al. have proven that curcumin can
inhibit ApoE4-induced injury by upregulating the expression of
peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ to inhibit the
activation of NF-κB signaling in SH-SY5Y cells. Apart from the
anti-inflammatory role, curcumin also acts as a known
antioxidant that scavenges reactive oxygen species. Zheng et al.
found that curcumin can protect SH-SY5Y cells against
appoptosin-induced intrinsic caspase-dependent apoptosis by
increasing heme oxygenase-1 expression and reducing ROS
production. Chhunchha et al. also proposed that curcumin
could reinforce the naturally occurring Prdx6 expression,
attenuate ROS-based ER stress and NF-κB-mediated aberrant
signaling, then improve the survival of mouse hippocampal cells
(HT22), and may provide an avenue to treat and/or postpone
diseases associated with ROS or ER stress. In the findings of
Feng et al.,they indicated that curcumin could inhibit the
PERK–eIF2α–CHOP axis of the ER stress response through the
activation of SIRT1 in tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP)-treated
rat chondrocytes and ameliorated osteoarthritis development in
vivo. Together, the previous studies focused either on the
anti-inflammatory effect of curcumin in vitro under various
stimuli or on its protection against ER stress in other
inflammatory diseases.
Curcumin protects against inflammation and lung
injury in rats with acute pulmonary embolism
Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry | April 2021
Curcumin
decreased miR-21 expression by downregulating Sp1 to upregulate
PTEN and to impair the NF-κB signaling pathway, thus suppressing
lung injury and inflammation in APE rats.
Antiviral and immunomodulatory activity of curcumin: A case for
prophylactic therapy for COVID-19
Heliyon
Cell Press | March 2021
Curcumin, a bioactive compound in
turmeric, exerts diverse pharmacological activities and is
widely used in foods and traditional medicines. This review
presents several lines of evidence, which suggest curcumin as a
promising prophylactic, therapeutic candidate for COVID-19.
First, curcumin exerts antiviral activity against many types of
enveloped viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, by multiple mechanisms:
direct interaction with viral membrane proteins; disruption of
the viral envelope; inhibition of viral proteases; induce host
antiviral responses. Second, curcumin protects from lethal
pneumonia and ARDS via targeting NF-κB, inflammasome, IL-6 trans
signal, and HMGB1 pathways. Third, curcumin is safe and
well-tolerated in both healthy and diseased human subjects. In
conclusion, accumulated evidence indicates that curcumin may be
a potential prophylactic therapeutic for COVID-19 in the clinic
and public health settings.
Curcumin suppresses the stemness of non‐small cell
lung cancer cells
Environmental Toxicology
| March 2021
Curcumin has been shown to suppress the
progression of lung cancer, however, the underlying mechanisms
are largely unknown. Our results suggest that curcumin can
attenuate the stemness of lung cancer cells through promoting
TAZ protein degradation and thus activating Hippo pathway.
The Effect of Curcumin Supplementation on Overweight or Obese
Adults
Nutrients | 2021
Curcumin has
been shown to play a beneficial role in obesity management.
Therefore, exploring the effects of certain herbs or dietary
spices on obesity may be promising. Among these spices,
curcumin, which is the primary component of the spice turmeric,
has gained great interest for its multiple health benefits.
Several randomized controlled trials have investigated the
potential favorable effects of curcumin supplementation on
anthropometric measures. The aim of this review is to evaluate
the effect of curcumin supplementation on the anthropometric
indices among overweight or obese adults. Curcumin
supplementation may exert beneficial effects against obesity
among overweight or obese adults.
Anticancer Mechanism of Curcumin on Human Glioblastoma
Nutrients | 2021
Curcumin is the most studied compound
described as a potential anticancer agent due to its
multi-targeted signaling/molecular pathways properties. Curcumin
possesses the ability to modulate the core pathways involved in
GBM cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, autophagy,
paraptosis, oxidative stress, and tumor cell motility. This
review discusses curcumin’s anticancer mechanism. Curcuminoids
(especially curcumin) have been gaining immense attention
because of its anticarcinogenic, antitumor, antioxidant, and
anti-inflammatory actions. Curcumin is the most abundant
compound and has been widely studied as a potential therapeutic
agent in chronic diseases, such as neurodegenerative,
cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic, and autoimmune diseases.
For instance, curcumin was able to restore oxidative stress and
DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) functions against diabetic
retinopathy. Curcumin also acts as a wound healing promoting
agent by facilitating collagen synthesis and fibroblast
migration. Several pre-clinical and clinical studies also
reported its anticancer effects in colorectal cancer, pancreatic
cancer, lung cancer, and GBM. Curcumin can modulate multiple
cellular signaling pathways and molecular targets involved in
GBM tumor growth, migration, invasion, cell death, and
proliferatio. Retinoblastoma (Rb), p53, MAP kinase (MAPK),
P13K/Akt, JAK/STAT, sonic hedgehog (Shh), and NF-κB pathways are
the most common targeted dysregulated pathways found in GBM and
modulated by curcumin. Moreover, curcumin is highly lipophilic
and able to cross the blood–brain barrier.
Curcumin + Celecoxib: a synergistic and rationale
combination chemotherapy for breast cancer
European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences | March
2021
This study is designed to explore the synergistic
inhibitory effect of the combination of curcumin and celecoxib
on the growth of human breast cancer cells. Our findings show
the prominent anti-proliferative effects of celecoxib and/or
curcumin on MDA-MB-231 cells, providing a rationale for further
detailed preclinical and potential clinical studies of this
combination for breast cancer therapy. Further, these computed
parameters suggested that curcumin possesses a high tendency to
act as an adjuvant drug with celecoxib in the treatment of
breast cancer.
Immune-Stimulatory Effects of Curcumin on the Tumor
Microenvironment in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Cancers | March 2021
Curcumin is known to have
immune-modulatory and antitumor effects by interacting with more
than 30 different proteins. An important feature of curcumin is
the inhibition of nuclear factor kappa of activated B-cells
(NF-κB). Curcumin was more effective in inhibiting
PIC-dependent NF-κB activation and Treg attraction compared to
known NF-κB inhibitors BAY 11-7082 or caffeic acid phenethyl
ester. The presented results show, for the first time, the
immune-modulating effects of curcumin in HNSCC, with potent
inhibition of the Treg-attracting effects of PIC. Hence,
curcumin presents a promising drug in cancer therapy as a
supplement to already established treatments.
Curcumin with Promising Protection against Herpesvirus
Infections and Their Associated Inflammation
Microorganisms | March 2021
Curcumin is the key component of
the yellow pigment and the main bioactive molecule of turmeric.
Chemically, this compound belongs to the class of natural
phenolic compounds and has been broadly identified in diverse
Curcuma spp. In 1910, curcumin was characterized as a
symmetrical molecule of two 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl rings
fastened by α,β-unsaturated carbonyl groups, while its synthesis
was defined in 1913. Curcumin has been employed widely in the
traditional medicine systems of various countries and regions in
the world. Since the complete information about chemical
structure and synthesis is acquired, curcumin has been
extensively studied in various biological assays and has proven
to induce numerous pharmacological and beneficial impacts on
human health, including but not limited to the potential
treatment of various viral infections such as human
immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus,
influenza A virus, human papillomavirus, respiratory syncytial
virus, arboviruses, and noroviruses. Unlike the notable
antimicrobial actions, this biomolecule induces several
biological effects including but not limited to antioxidant,
anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. We reviewed the
curative properties of curcumin, a principal bioactive phenolic
compound of the spice turmeric, in regard to various human and
animal herpesvirus infections and inflammation connected with
these diseases. According to the reviewed studies, this paper
presents curcumin as a promising natural drug for the prevention
and treatment of herpesvirus infections and their associated
inflammatory diseases. In recent years, curcumin as a
nutraceutical agent has attracted major attention in many
research fields due to its great therapeutic potential against
various biological targets. We have comprehensively reviewed the
curative values of curcumin against numerous animal and human
herpesviruses along with the mechanisms by which this compound
induces antiherpetic properties, which were examined in vitro
and in vivo investigations. Based on several structure-activity
relationship studies, hydroxyl groups, carbonyl groups, and
phenyl rings of curcumin were observed to be accountable for the
induced anti-herpesvirus properties. In conclusion, this review
proposes curcumin as a potent and safe drug for the therapy of
herpesvirus infections as well as inflammation associated with
these infections.
Roles of Curcumin in Sensitising the Cisplatin
Effect on a Cancer Stem Cell-Like Population Derived from
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cell Lines
Molecules | March 2021
Natural compounds such as curcumin
that contain high amounts of polyphenols can have a
chemosensitivity effect that sensitises CSCs to cytotoxic agents
such as cisplatin. Curcumin significantly suppressed
colonies formation by 50% and shrank the spheroids in cancer
stem ce subpopulations, indicating inhibition of their
self-renewal capability. This effect also was manifested by the
down-regulation of SOX2, NANOG, and KLF4. Curcumin also
regulated the niche of cancer stem cells by inhibiting
chemoresistance proteins, aldehyde dehydrogenase, metastasis,
angiogenesis, and proliferation of cancer-related proteins.
These results show the potential of using curcumin as a
therapeutic approach for targeting cancer stem cells
subpopulations in non-small cell lung cancer. Curcumin
(diferuloylmethane) is a naturally occurring polyphenol extract
that is found in turmeric. Curcumin has long been used as a
food, cosmetic, and traditional herbal medicine. Significant
evidence indicated that curcumin’s anti-cancer potential against
many types of cancer, including breast, pancreas, prostate,
lung, melanoma, and head and neck cancers. Unlike many
‘targeted’ chemotherapeutic drugs that suffer from toxicity and
resistance, curcumin by itself can target specific molecules and
pathways without any associated toxicity or resistance. One of
the most compelling reasons for exploring curcumin is its
sensitiser properties, which influence a diverse range of
molecular targets within cells. Combining curcumin with
chemotherapy drugs led to the hypothesis that efficacy could be
enhanced by adding two or more targeted agents to combat cancer
cells’ resistance mechanism. Our previous study has shown that
curcumin was able to increase the efficacy of cisplatin
Focus on Multi-targeted Role of Curcumin: a Boon in
Therapeutic Paradigm
Environmental Science
and Pollution Research | March 2021
After thoroughly studying
several articles on combination therapy of curcumin through
authenticated book chapters, websites, research, and review
articles available at PubMed, ScienceDirect, etc., it has been
observed that multi-targeted curcumin possess enormous
anticancer potential and, with whatever drug it is given in
combination, has always resulted in enhanced effect with reduced
dose as well as side effects. It is also capable enough in
overcoming the problem of chemoresistance. Combining all the
factors together, we can conclude that combination therapy of
drugs with curcumin should be explored extensively
Efficacy of curcumin/turmeric on liver enzymes in
patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Integrative Medicine Research | March 2021
Meta-analysis of 4
randomized controlled trials including 228 subjects showed a
trend toward significant reduction of ALT blood concentrations
in subgroup with ≥1000 mg/day curcumin supplementation.
Meta-analysis showed a significant reduction of AST in studies
with 8-weeks administration. Conclusion This review suggests
that curcumin/turmeric might have a favorable effect on NAFLD in
higher dosage.
Curcumin suppresses tumor growth of
gemcitabine-resistant non-small cell lung cancer
Clinical and Translational Oncology | March 2021
Curcumin has
been reported to block cancer development by modulating multiple
signaling pathways. The results showed that curcumin suppressed
gemcitabine-resistant non-small cell lung cancer cell
proliferation and induced apoptosis. Curcumin upregulated the
expression of lncRNA-MEG3 and PTEN, and MEG3 overexpression
could increase the level of PTEN expression, while MEG3
knockdown decreased the level of PTEN expression in
gemcitabine-resistant non-small cell lung cancer cells. These
findings show the antitumor activity of curcumin for potential
clinical application in gemcitabine-resistant non-small cell
lung cancer treatment.
Curcumin anti‐tumor effects on endometrial cancer
with focus on its molecular targets
Cancer
Cell International | March 2021
Curcumin is a phenolic
antioxidant extracted from turmeric, which is frequently used as
a spice and has a yellow color. The rhizome of the herb Curcuma
longa is the origin of turmeric that contains turmerin protein
as well as analogs of curcumin, demethoxycucumin, and
bisdemethoxycurcumin. 1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-
methoxyphenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione is the chemical name of
curcumin and C21H20O6 is its empirical formula. Since curcumin
and its two analogs have the same molecular and biological
characteristics, it is suggested that bisdemethoxycurcumin
converts to demethoxycucumin, which in turn, transforms into
curcumin. While curcumin plays a variety of beneficial roles,
studies on animals and humans have concluded that it is a safe
agent even at high doses. Curcumin acts as an anti-oxidative,
anti-microbial, anti-malarial, anti-HIV, and anti-angiogenic
agent. Furthermore, it can be used in the treatment of
inflammation, skin wounds, and neurodegenerative diseases.
Curcumin has complex chemistry and it is capable of targeting
some signaling pathways. Moreover, it can interact with several
intracellular and extracellular molecules. These features lead
to anti-tumor effects of curcumin on various cancer cells and is
useful at different stages, including prevention, treatment, and
controlling the symptoms of cancers. There are studies concerned
with the anti-tumor effects of curcumin in the treatment of EC.
Curcumin plays these roles by involving various targets, such as
signaling pathways, proteins, genes, and RNAs. Induction of
apoptosis, reducing inflammation, and inhibiting cell migration
are the results of curcumin treatment. Furthermore, there are
some miRNAs whose effects on EC have been identified and
curcumin has been observed to impact on these miRNAs but in
other cancers. Altogether, curcumin should be considered as a
therapeutic target in EC and its anti-tumor effects on this
cancer deserve further exploration.
The protective effects of curcumin in cerebral
ischemia and reperfusion injury through PKC-θ signaling
Cell Cycle | March 2021
Curcumin, a known antioxidant, has
been found to have neuroprotective effects. To determine the
protective mechanism of curcumin in ischemic stroke, oxygen and
glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) was used to treat PC12
cells to mimic the cerebral I/R cell model. Our results
demonstrated that curcumin could reverse the MCAO/R-induced
increase in Ca2+ concentration and blood–brain barrier (BBB)
disruption. Our study demonstrates the mechanisms by which
curcumin exhibited a protective function against cerebral I/R
through PKC-θ signaling by reducing BBB dysfunction.
Curcumin promotes cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of
acute myeloid leukemia cells by inactivating AKT
Oncology Reports | March 2021
Curcumin, a phytochemical from
rhizomes of the plant Curcuma longa, has been reported to exert
potential anticancer properties in various cancer types,
including acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The present study
demonstrated the anti-AML effect of curcumin both in vitro and
in vivo. Collectively, the present study demonstrated that
curcumin exerted anti‑acute myeloid leukemia roles by
inactivating AKT and these findings may aid in the treatment of
acute myeloid leukemia.
Curcumin repairs intestinal mucosal injury induced by 5-FU
chemotherapy for colon cancer
National
Library of Medicine | March 2021
Curcumin maintained the
integrity of mucosal surface and villi structure of jejunum to a
large extent, and reduced pathological changes in a
dose-dependent manner. Meanwhile, curcumin could increase the
positive expression of occludin, claudin and ZO-1(P<0.05 or
P<0.01), repair intestinal barrier function, downregulate the
protein expression of IL-6, p-STAT3, vimentin and N-cadherin in
jejunum tissues(P<0.05 or P<0.01), and upregulate the
protein expression of E-cadherin(P<0.05). Therefore, curcumin
could repair the intestinal mucosal injury induced by 5-FU
chemotherapy for colon cancer, and the mechanism may be related
to the inhibition of IL-6/STAT3 signal and the inhibition of
epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT) process.
Effect of Curcumin, Exelon and their Combination on
Brain in Alzheimer’s Disease-Induced Rats
Journal
of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research | March 2021
Curcumin is a natural product derived from Curcuma longa (more
commonly known as turmeric). Curcumin has anti-inflammation and
antioxidant activities, so it can decrease inflammation, amyloid
accumulation and oxidative stress which has ability to scavenge
free radicals. Also, it has protective potent from lipid
peroxidation, and scavenges nitric oxide (NO)-based radicals.
Curcumin has ability to inhibit formation of Aβ plaques and
lower soluble Aβ levels due to its metal chelation properties as
it binds to redox-active metal ions such as iron and copper.
These complexes may cause a net protective effect through
decreased Aβ aggregation. Curcumin is safe product which large
quantities can consumed without toxicity. The results obtained
from the present study revealed that curcumin can be effective
in various types of oxidative associated Alzheimer’s disease and
encouraged further in vitro studies to realize the accurate bio
efficacy and bioavailability pathways of curcumin. Regarding the
above-mentioned results which demonstrated the biological
activities of curcumin in either protecting or treating brain,
it is highly recommended to estimate curcumin as a safe and
effective natural product for oxidative associated Alzheimer’s
diseases. According to these results, curcumin as a dietary
supplement has a protective role against the beginning of
Alzheimer’s diseases. The intake of a significant content of
curcumin in the daily regimen or as dietary supplementation
along with specific therapeutic options can provide perfect
prevention and treatment for Alzheimer’s diseases.
Synergistic Roles of Curcumin in Sensitising the Cisplatin
Effect on a Cancer Stem Cell-Like Population Derived from
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cell Lines
Molecules | March 2021
Significant evidence indicated that
curcumin’s anti-cancer potential against many types of cancer,
including breast, pancreas, prostate, lung, melanoma, and head
and neck cancers. Unlike many ‘targeted’ chemotherapeutic drugs
that suffer from toxicity and resistance, curcumin by itself can
target specific molecules and pathways without any associated
toxicity or resistance. One of the most compelling reasons for
exploring curcumin is its sensitiser properties, which influence
a diverse range of molecular targets within cells. Combining
curcumin with chemotherapy drugs led to the hypothesis that
efficacy could be enhanced by adding two or more targeted agents
to combat cancer cells’ resistance mechanism. Our previous study
has shown that curcumin was able to increase the efficacy of
cisplatin by enhancing the cisplatin-induced metastatic
inhibition and apoptosis of the highly migratory CSC
subpopulation of NSCLC cell lines.Natural compounds such as
curcumin that contain high amounts of polyphenols can have a
chemosensitivity effect that sensitises CSCs to cytotoxic agents
such as cisplatin. Results show the potential of using
curcumin as a therapeutic approach for targeting CSC
subpopulations in non-small cell lung cancer. Results of this
study show that either alone or in combination with cisplatin,
curcumin can suppress CSC properties; thus, it could be an
effective therapeutic strategy to prevent the emergence of
chemoresistance in NSCLC by eliminating CSCs.
How curcumin affects hyperglycemia-induced optic
nerve damage: A short review
Journal of
Chemical Neuroanatomy | March 2021
Curcumin is effective in
preventing the progression of diabetic complications and
improving complications. Curcumin has healing effects in optic
nerve damage with its anti-oxidant properties.
Effects of curcumin administration on Nesfatin-1 levels in
blood, brain and fat tissues of diabetic rats
European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences | March
2021
Curcumin administration caused significant improvement
in fasting blood glucose levels. For the first time, we
found marked improvements in nesfatin-1 levels in blood, brain,
and fat tissues of type 2 DM rats. Thus, considering the crucial
role of nesfatin-1 in regulation of glucose metabolism, it is
logical to expect an interactive relationship between curcumin
and nesfatin-1.
Curcumin Supplementation Enhances Bone Marrow
Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Promote the Anabolism of Articular
Chondrocytes and Cartilage Repair
Cell
Transplantation | March 2021
Curcumin displayed multiple
pharmacological activities including anti-inflammatory,
antioxidant, and anticancer, and has been employed in different
studies involving several pathologies such as cardiovascular
disease, depression, Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, Parkinson’s
disease, cancer, osteoporosis, rheumatic arthritis, and
osteoarthritis. It could inhibit the activation of nuclear
factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κβ)
and synthesis of reactive oxygen species by reducing the
production of IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor α via
various pathways, and is emerged as an effective therapeutic
agent. For osteoarthritis treatment, curcumin supplementation
exhibited effects mainly based on its anti-inflammation,
antioxidant, and antiapoptosis potentials15. In clinical trials,
curcumin served as a natural product medicine displayed nearly
no side effects, thus making it a potential alternative to
NSAIDs and some other medications with known severe adverse
effects. In the current study, curcumin enhanced the BMSC
function for the proliferation and migration of articular
chondrocytes, and anabolic gene expression of ECM in articular
chondrocytes in vitro, and the regeneration of articular
cartilage in vivo. These results indicated potential clinical
application of curcumin cooperation with BMSCs in cartilage
repair for osteoarthritis treatment.
Curcumin for amyloidosis and lipid metabolism - a
novel insight
eLife Shinshu University |
March 2021
Curcumin is a polyphenol compound produced by
plants of the Curcuma longa species and has been reported to
have many physiological activities, which include
anti-oxidation, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-amyloid
properties. In previous studies, curcumin has been shown to
suppress the aggregation and cytotoxicity of many amyloid
proteins in vitro, such as amyloid ß (Aß), α-synuclein,
transthyretin, and prion protein, and has also been reported to
inhibit the deposition of Aß fibrils in a mouse model of
Alzheimer's disease. These findings demonstrate the novel
agonistic effect of curcumin on PPARα, which is an important
transcription factor for lipid metabolism, and may have
far-reaching significance for the treatment of amyloidosis and
other metabolic disorders. In addition, it has been regarded
that curcumin, as an agonist of PPARγ, exerts anti-inflammatory,
anti-cancer and antioxidant activities in the past. However,
this study demonstrates that curcumin is a PPARα/γ dual
activator and may affect expression levels of proteins involved
in amyloid deposition and other metabolism functions in a
complex manner. By focusing on the PPARα pathway, the group hope
to provide an opportunity to reconsider the mechanism of the
physiological effects of curcumin.
A protective effect of curcumin on cardiovascular
oxidative stress indicators in systemic inflammation induced by
lipopolysaccharide in rats
Biochemistry and
Biophysics Reports | March 2021
Administration of curcumin
attenuated oxidative stress and inflammation in the serum, aorta
and heart tissues induced by lipopolysaccharide LPS.
Anti-inflammatory Effect of Curcumin on Human
Vitreous in Patients With Diabetic Retinopathy
Frontiers in Neurology | March 2021
Curcumin, a yellowish
non-flavonoid polyphenol that constitutes the main active
compound of Curcuma longa, is widely known for its antioxidant
and anti-inflammatory properties. Many studies have also
described its marked protective effect on retinal cells against
oxidative stress and inflammation. Curcumin is a well-known
bioactive molecule, largely employed in supplement formulation
due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Our study highlighted
the ability of curcumin to reduce cytokine levels in the
vitreous of diabetic patients. We also observed an additional
anti-inflammatory effect when curcumin was combined with
homotaurine and vitamin D3, suggesting that these molecules can
regulate the inflammatory network between the vitreous and
retina at different levels. This effect is confirmed by the gene
expression experiment which demonstrated that the combination of
curcumin, vitamin D3, and homotaurine down-regulate the cyclinD1
gene and the pro-inflammatory cytokine genes TNFα and IL6
expression.
Curcumin protects cells from oxidative stress and
inflammation
International Journal of
Molecular Medicine | March 2021
Curcumin is a well‑known
antioxidant, the present study demonstrates that curcumin
protects BEAS‑2B cells against PM2.5‑induced oxidative damage
and inflammation, and prevents cell apoptosis by increasing the
activation of NRF2‑related pathways. It is thus suggested that
curcumin may be a potential compound for use in the prevention
of PM2.5‑induced tissue injury.
Curcumin induces mitochondrial biogenesis by
increasing cAMP levels via PDE4A inhibition in skeletal muscle
British Journal of Nutrition | March 2021
Previous research
has suggested that curcumin potentially induces mitochondrial
biogenesis in skeletal muscle via increasing cAMP levels. The
present results suggest that curcumin increases cAMP levels via
inhibition of PDE4A phosphorylation, which induces mitochondrial
biogenesis through a cAMP/PKA/AMPK signalling pathway. Our data
also suggest the possibility that curcumin utilizes a regulatory
mechanism for mitochondrial biogenesis that is distinct from the
exercise-induced mechanism in skeletal muscle.
Catechin and curcumin interact with S protein of coronavirus
SARS-CoV2 and ACE2 of human cell membrane
Scientific Reports | February 2021
Several recent studies
have suggested that natural polyphenolic compounds like
catechins (GTCs; Green Tea Catechins) and curcumin
(diferuloylmethane; from turmeric) have antiviral activities
against a broad spectrum of viruses such as Human
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Herpes Simplex Virus, Influenza
Virus, Hepatitis B and C Viruses (HBV and HCV respectively)14,
Adenovirus15 and Chikungunya virus (CHIKV). Diverse mechanisms
have been suggested to explain the antiviral activities of both
the polyphenolic compounds. Curcumin has been demonstrated as a
potent inhibitor of monophosphate dehydrogenase, a rate limiting
enzyme in the de novo synthesis of guanine nucleotide22.
Further, it has also been observed that GTCs and curcumin
inhibit the expression of ACE2, as evident from animal
studies.Both catechin and curcumin bind the interface of
‘RBD/ACE2-complex’ and intervene in causing fluctuation of the
alpha helices and beta-strands of the protein complex.
Protein–protein interaction studies in presence of curcumin or
catechin also corroborate the above findings suggesting the
efficacy of these two polyphenols in hindering the formation of
S Protein-ACE2 complex. In conclusion, this computational study
for the first time predicts the possibility of above two
polyphenols for therapeutic strategy against SARS-CoV2.
ASU study looks at how Curcumin supplements might help
post-COVID
AZFamily.com | February 2021
Researchers at Arizona State University are conducting a study
into if whether or not two supplements can help reduce
inflammation after having COVID-19. An ASU grad student is part
of a research team, hoping to learn whether or not two
supplements reduce inflammation after COVID-19. "It can either
be Curcumin, which comes from the spice turmeric," said ASU Grad
Student Samantha Fessler. "...the other one is
Palmitoylethanolamide, and that comes from things like eggs and
peanut oil...using these supplements with the flu, they've been
proven to improve inflammation associated with the flu viral
infection and also post-recovery from other types of chronic
issues."
The potential role of curcumin in the prevention of COVID-19
Archives of Microbiology | February 2021
Due to the new
coronavirus’ unexplored nature, we shed light on curcumin for
its potential role against the disease. The current study showed
the use of curcumin against the coronavirus and its possible
role in developing medicine against it. Curcuma longa
produces turmeric (diferuloylmethane), named Indian saffron in
Europe, with its medicinal uses, including antiviral and
anti-inflammatory actions. It has shown that curcumin has its
inhibitory effects on the virus, including HIV, smallpox,
measles, and chickenpox are being among its target. In the
current study, we showed the possible use of curcumin in the
prevention of COVID-19 by targeting the virus replicase protein
Nsp9. Turmeric is the principle source of curcumin, and in India
it is used as an essential daily ingredient in the food
preparation while it has its own antiviral, antifungal,
antiallergic properties. Hence, it is preferred over other
medicinal compounds in the present study. As curcumin also
showed the antiviral properties, the interaction of curcumin and
Nsp9 may be useful in understanding the novel SARS Cov-2.
This supports the use of curcumin to reduce the pathological
consequences that emerged due to coronavirus infection. So, by
targeting the ssRNA of coronavirus at its initial replication
stage, through curcumin, when it enters the human is a matter of
immediate in-vivo research to possibly overcome the COVID-19 and
explore the inhibitory pathways of curcumin to prevent the new
coronavirus replication machinery in the human system.
Curcumin: reclaiming the lost ground against cancer resistancee
leydig testosterone
Cancer Drug Resistance
| February 2021
Curcumin, a polyphenol, has a wide range of
biological properties such as anticancer, antibacterial,
antitubercular, cardioprotective and neuroprotective. Moreover,
the anti-proliferative activities of Curcumin have been widely
studied against several types of cancers due to its ability to
target multiple pathways in cancer. A large number of reported
studies and increasing interest of researchers have reinforced
the claim of curcumin being one of the most sought after natural
product in the fight against cancer. Curcumin, is a polyphenolic
compound of up to 5% present in turmeric. Curcumin as a
phytochemical has been widely explored for its therapeutic
potential through in vitro and in vivo investigations. It has
been shown to possess biological activity against a large
spectrum of physiological conditions, which include antioxidant,
chemo-protective, anti-diabetic and anti-proliferative activity
against cancer cells. Curcumin has shown commendable potential
during in vitro and in vivo studies against
vrious cancers. It has also been established through clinical
trials that curcumin does not show any adverse effect upto a
daily dose of 8 g to 12 g. The combinatorial treatment of
curcumin has been shown to sensitize the drug-resistant cancer
towards existing anticancer drugs and this aspect of
combinatorial treatment can be exploited to fully utilize the
curative potential of curcumin. In the near future, curcumin may
play an important role in chemotherapeutic regimes against
different types of cancers.
Curcumin
has the potential to improve motor skills in Parkinson’s disease
Emerging Investigators | February 2021
Curcumin is a
polyphenol and an active component of turmeric (Curcuma longa),
a dietary spice widely used in Indian cuisine and medicine.
Curcumin exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer
properties, crosses the blood-brain barrier and is
neuroprotective in neurological disorders. Several studies in
different experimental models of Parkinson’s disease strongly
support the clinical application of curcumin in Parkinson’s
disease. With India’s apparent resistance to Parkinson’s disease
and the Parkinson’s disease clinical applications done with a
spice Indians use almost daily, curcumin becomes a logical
treatment in PD cases. Curcumin does have an impact on
Parkinson’s disease symptoms, we can conduct further
experimentation to see which amount of curcumin in diets have an
optimal impact of curcumin in the brain.
A Review of the Possible Effects of Curcumin in the
Treatment of COVID-19
Journal of Military
Medicine | February 2021
Curcumin is a natural polyphenolic
compound, which could be a potential treatment option for
patients with Covid-19. In this study, we review some of the
possible effects of curcumin, such as inhibiting virus entry
into the cell, inhibiting virus replication and viral protease,
as well as modulating some intracellular messenger pathways. To
comprehensive literature review, information from an internet
search of English language databases PubMed, Scopus, Web of
Science and ScienceDirect as well as Persian language databases
such as SID using related keywords based on MESH such as
COVID-19, SARS-COV-2 , Curcumin and curcuminoid between January
2020 and January 2021 were collected. This review provides some
possible effects of curcumin and its mechanisms for the
treatment of COVID-19.
Ten Days of Curcumin Supplementation Attenuates
Subjective Soreness and Maintains Muscular Power Following
Plyometric Exercise
Journal of Dietary
Supplements | February 2021
Curcumin has become a popular
product used to decrease inflammation and enhance recovery from
exercise. Purpose: To determine the effects of curcumin
supplementation on delayed onset muscle soreness and muscle
power following plyometric exercise. Conclusion: These data
suggest curcumin reduces soreness and maintains muscular power
following plyometric exercise.
Curcumin: Natural Antimicrobial and Anti
Inflammatory Agent
Journal of
Pharmaceutical Research International | February 2021
Various
studies, conducted as in vitro assays, have revealed different
therapeutic applications of curcumin due to its different
molecular mechanisms. Findings of the present in vitro study
confirmed consideration of curcumin as a natural antimicrobial
and anti-inflammatory agent. Test curcumin solutions
demonstrated strong antibacterial, antifungal and
anti-inflammatory activity. With an increase of curcumin
concentration antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity
increased, which implied that observed activity is dependent
upon the concentration of curcumin. In conclusion, the present
study emphasises the potential application of curcumin as a
natural antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agent.
Oral
supplementation of curcumin for three months reduces p-CS plasma
levels in hemodialysis patients, suggesting a gut microbiota
modulation
International
Urology and Nephrology | February 2021
Nutritional
strategies, such as bioactive compounds present in curcumin,
have been proposed as an option to modulate the gut microbiota
and decrease the production of uremic toxins such as indoxyl
sulfate (IS), p-cresyl sulfate (pCS) and indole-3 acetic acid
(IAA). After three months of supplementation, the curcumin group
showed a significant decrease in pCS plasma levels [from 32.4
(22.1–45.9) to 25.2 (17.9–37.9) mg/L, p = 0.009], which did not
occur in the control group.
Management of altered metabolic activity in
Drosophila model of Huntington’s disease by curcumin
bioRxiv | February 2021
Curcumin is bioactive component of
turmeric (Curcuma longa Linn), well-known for its ability to
modulate metabolic activities. We found that curcumin
effectively managed abnormal body weight, dysregulated lipid
content and carbohydrate level in Huntington’s disease flies. In
addition, curcumin administration lowered elevated
reactive-oxygen-species (ROS) levels in adult adipose tissue of
diseased flies, and improved survival and locomotor function in
Huntington’s disease flies at advanced disease stage.
Altogether, these findings clearly suggest that curcumin
efficiently attenuates metabolic derangements in Huntington’s
disease flies and can prove beneficial in alleviating the
complexities associated with Huntington’s disease.
Phytochemicals like curcumin that can regulate multiple targets
in complex diseases like Huntington’s disease, with least
side-effects and maximum benefits, provide a better hope for the
treatment of terminally-ill Huntington’s disease patients. Our
findings show that curcumin is beneficial in suppression of
neurodegeneration with amelioration of metabolic dysregulation.
Though curcumin may not completely prevent neurodegeneration or
metabolic impairments during terminal stages, it can effectively
delay the inception and progression of HD at initial and
moderate disease forms. Therefore, curcumin may prove to be a
safe and suitable treatment regimen for management of HD that
could be of great relief for the patients.
Effects of Curcumin on Glycemic Control and Lipid Profile in
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Nutrients |
February 2021
Curcumin has been studied to adjunctly treat
broad spectrum of disease from type 2 diabetes mellitus to
telogen effluvium. Curcumin elicits antidiabetic effects via
several mechanisms, including the increase in glycolysis and
glycogen synthesis and the decrease in gluconeogenesis in the
liver, as well as the increase in glucose uptake, glycolysis,
and glycogen synthesis in the skeletal muscle. Curcumin has also
been known to reduce plasma cholesterol and triglyceride by
increasing the activity of lipoprotein lipase and through
mechanisms which alter lipid and cholesterol gene expression. In
addition, the anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin have been
demonstrated to reduce the oxidative stress in patients with
PCOS. Previous literature reveals that curcumin significantly
improves fasting blood glucose and triglyceride in patients with
metabolic syndrome. In vivo study further demonstrates similar
effects in the PCOS model. Curcumin significantly improves
fasting glucose, fasting insulin, Homeostasis Model Assessment
of Insulin Resistance, and quantitative insulin sensitivity
check index. It also significantly improves high-density
lipoprotein and total cholesterol. Curcumin may improve glycemic
control and lipid metabolism in patients with PCOS and metabolic
abnormality without significant adverse effects. Curcumin
may improve glycemic control and lipid metabolism in patients
with PCOS and metabolic abnormality without significant adverse
effects. Further studies are advocated to investigate the
potential effects of curcumin on hyperandrogenism.
Curcumin promotes cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of
acute myeloid leukemia
Oncology Reports |
February 2021
Curcumin is the main polyphenol component
extracted from rhizomes of the plant Curcuma longa, and its
therapeutic benefit has been demonstrated in various cancer
types, including AML. However, the underlying mechanism is
complex and remains poorly understood, as curcumin has multiple
targets and is involved in various signaling pathways. Previous
studies have reported that curcumin can exert its antitumor
effects by acting as an inhibitor of kinases, such as protein
kinase B (AKT/PKB) in head and neck cancer cells, JAK1 in
retinoblastoma cells and p38MAPK in endothelial cells. The
present study demonstrated the anti‑AML effect of curcumin both
in vitro and in vivo, and this effect was increased by the
combination with afuresertib. Afuresertib has been reported to
exert antitumor effects in ovarian cancer, malignant pleural
mesothelioma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. However, to the
best of our knowledge, its role in AML has not been previously
reported. The present study was the first report that
afuresertib could potentially be used for the treatment of
AML.In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that curcumin
decreased the survival and proliferation of AML cells in vitro,
as well as AML cell proliferation in hematopoietic tissue and
dissemination into non‑hematopoietic tissues. Mechanistically,
curcumin treatment suppressed AKT activation, leading to cell
cycle arrest and apoptosis.
The Multifaced Actions of Curcumin in Pregnancy
Outcome
Antioxidants | February 2021
Curcumin
(1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione),
also known as diferuloylmethane, is a polyphenolic yellow
substance coming from the rhizomes, the most commonly used plant
part, of Curcuma longa Linn (Zingiberaceae family). Curcumin
structure is similar to other bioactive non-volatile
curcuminoids such as dimethoxy-curcumin and
bisdemethoxy-curcumin, differing only for the number of methoxy
groups on their aromatic rings. This plant has been used since
ancient times for both food and pharmaceutical purposes, showing
a variety of beneficial effects in the organism reducing
glycemia, hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance and steatosis
in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Moreover, due to
the cytotoxic effects of curcumin on tumor cells, this compound
showed good effects also as an anticancer agent inhibiting tumor
proliferation and inducing apoptosis in many cancer types
including breast, colon, lung and gastric cancer. In addition,
curcumin showed anti-metastatic, radioprotective and
chemosensitizer effects reducing the adverse effects of
chemotherapeutic drugs.
Curcumin is generally recognized as a safe substance and its use
in humans did not show any toxic effects at the dose of 6 g/day
orally for 4–7 weeks. Curcumin has been extensively studied in
various fields, showing a wide range of action, including
Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-toxicant, anti-apoptotic,
anti-diabetic and immunomodulatory actions, demonstrated by in
vitro studies and animal models, suggest the use of this
compound as a therapeutic agent in counteracting several
pregnancy complications. Inflammation, oxidative stress,
Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) generation and apoptosis are
common conditions usually found in almost all of the
pathological placental conditions mentioned above; for this
reason, curcumin could play a key role in improving pregnancy
outcome in these complications. To date, there are many clinical
trials studying the efficacy of curcumin in many types of cancer
that generally consider curcumin as well tolerated and efficient
adjuvant therapy ameliorating the response to chemotherapy and
radiotherapy reducing the side effects of these therapies.
Clinical effects of curcumin have also been shown in other
pathologies. In fact, curcumin improved the severity of patients
affected by non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases (NAFLD) disease
decreasing the serum concentrations of inflammatory cytokines
and chemokines such as TNF-α and MCP-1. Moreover, curcumin
intake in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
significantly increased gene expression of PGC1α and activity of
the Gpx enzyme reducing oxidative stress. Another clinical trial
showed that curcumin was able to improve the symptoms in
patients affected by knee osteoarthritis. Beneficial curcumin
effects were also found in clinical trials focused on its role
in body weight regulation, finding a role for curcumin in
reducing BMI and increasing weight loss in addition to decreased
serum levels of IL1β, IL-4 and VEGF. Moreover, curcumin
administration in two clinical trials showed that curcumin could
decrease glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes
mellitus. Due to its multifaced role in regulating different
signaling and the encouraging data obtained in animal models and
in vitro studies, curcumin intake during pregnancy could be
beneficial in almost all the pregnancy complications mentioned
in this review.
Antioxidant Activity of Curcumin Protects against
the Radiation-Induced Micronuclei Formation
International Journal of Radiation Biology | February 2021
Curcumin when treated at a dose of 0.5 μg/mL attenuated
micronuclei formation after γ-irradiation by inhibiting the
formation of radiation-induced free radicals.
Curcumin significantly alleviated cognitive deficits
induced by cerebral ischemia.
Brain
Research | February 2021
Curcumin ameliorates acute cerebral
ischemia-induced cognitive dysfunction in mice. Curcumin
promotes hippocampal NSCs proliferation and differentiation into
neurons. Curcumin promotes hippocampal neurogenesis through
Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
Recent
Advances in the Synthesis and Development of Curcumin, its
Combinations, Formulations and Curcumin-like Compounds as
Antiinfective Agents
Current Medicinal
Chemistry | February 2021
Curcumin, a redox-active natural
product, has for centuries been used in Asian traditional
medicine for the treatment of various diseases. It is known for
possessing multiple biological and pharmacological activities.
Curcumin has been investigated extensively over the years for
its anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antiparasitic, antiviral and
antibacterial activities, and no toxicity is associated with the
compound. Despite its potency and safety profile, curcumin is
still in clinical trials for the treatment of diseases, such as
tuberculosis, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), Crohn's
disease, colorectal cancer and multiple myeloma, among many
others, as it is yet to be qualified as a therapeutic agent.
The effect of curcumin on serum copper, zinc, and
zinc/copper ratio in patients with β-thalassemia intermedia: a
randomized double-blind clinical trial
Annals of Hematology | February 2021
Due to its significant
therapeutic effects, curcumin has led many studies to focus on
curcumin. Curcumin might exert a net protective effect on
copper toxicity in thalassemia intermedia patients. The
investigation also implicated that curcumin represents an
approach to regulating zinc homeostasis and may be useful as a
complementary treatment of patients with thalassemia intermedia,
especially in patients with zinc deficiency or low serum
zinc/copper ratio.
Curcumin promotes AApoAII amyloidosis and peroxisome
proliferation in mice by activating the PPARα signaling pathway
Elife | February 2021
Curcumin is a polyphenol compound that
exhibits multiple physiological activities. Curcumin, a
polyphenol compound, is extracted from the rhizome of Curcuma
longa and has a long history of use in traditional medicines. In
in vitro experiments, curcumin has been shown to suppress
the aggregation and cytotoxicity of Aβ, αSyn, islet amyloid
precursor protein (IAPP), ATTR and prion protein (PrP). In 2001,
the first evidence of the efficacy of curcumin against Aβ
amyloidosis in a transgenic model mice was reported. Curcumin
was found to suppress amyloid deposition in a mouse model of
Alzheimer's disease and improve memory function. It was
subsequently demonstrated that the amount of amyloid present in
TTR-and tau-transgenic mice were reduced by curcumin
supplementation. Curcumin is a compound with multiple
physiological activities, which includ eanti-oxidation,
anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, lipid metabolism regulation and
anti-amyloid properties.
Curcumin
and Metabolic Diseases: The Role of Gut Microbiota
Nutrients | January 2021
Turmeric, also known as Curcuma longa L. belongs to
Zingiberaceae (or ginger family) and is a golden-colored spice.
Curcumin
((1E,6E)-1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione)
is the principle curcuminoid of turmeric used in traditional
medicine to cure various kinds of malady, as well as being a
food additive and coloring agent in Asian cuisines and in
beverage industries. Hewlings and Kalman stated the beneficial
effects of curcumin in the treatment of chronic diseases, such
as gastrointestinal, neurological disorders, cardiovascular
disease, diabetes, and several types of cancer. Enzymes of the
large intestine metabolise curcumin, and it is carried out in
two phases. In phase-1 metabolism, it yields three metabolites,
1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)heptane-3,5-dione
(tetrahydrocurcumin),
5-hydroxy-1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3-heptanone
(hexahydrocurcumin), and
1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)heptane-3,5-diol
(octahydrocurcumin) under reduction. After that, curcumin and
its metabolites subject to conjugation through phase-II
metabolism to yield sulfate and glucuronide O-conjugated
metabolites. Curcumin metabolites have properties and potency
similar to curcumin and exhibit the same physiological and
pharmacological properties. It has been stated that curcumin and
gut microbiota have bidirectional interactions such as gut
microbiota regulation by curcumin and biotransformation of
curcumin by gut microbiota. Carmody et al reported that
the biological properties of curcumin depend on the activity of
metabolites produced by gut microbiota digestion. The curcumin
metabolic pathways by GM include reduction, methylation,
demethoxylation, hydroxylation, and acetylation, and the main
products are 1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)heptane-3,5-dione
(tetrahydrocurcumin), 3-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)propanoic
acid (dihydroferulic acid), and
1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-2-propanol. Furthermore, curcumin
can also be metabolized by Pichia pastoris into four major
metabolites, include 1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3methoxyphenyl)
heptan-3,5-diol, 5-hydroxy-1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)
heptan-3-one, 5-hydroxy-1,7-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) heptane-3-one,
and 5-hydroxy-7-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)
heptan-3-one [101,103]. Many GM, such as E. coli, E. fergusonii
(ATCC 35469) Blautia sp. (mrg-pmf1), Bifidobacterium
(Bifidobacteria longum BB536, Bifidobacteria pseudocatenulaum
G4), Lactobacillus (Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus
acidophilus), Enterococcus faecalis JCM 5803, Pichia anomala,
and Bacillus megateriumdcmb-002, are found biologically relevant
in the biotransformation and degradation of curcumin.
Curcumin, a traditional spice component, can hold the promise
against COVID-19?
European Journal of
Pharmacology | January 2021
Curcumin, known for its
pharmacological abilities especially as an anti-inflammatory
agent, can be hypothesized as a potential candidate in the
therapeutic regimen. COVID-19 has an assorted range of
pathophysiological consequences, including pulmonary damage,
elevated inflammatory response, coagulopathy, and multi-organ
damage. This review summarizes the several evidences for the
pharmacological benefits of curcumin in COVID-19-associated
clinical manifestations. Curcumin can be appraised to hinder
cellular entry, replication of SARS-CoV-2, and to prevent and
repair COVID-19-associated damage of pneumocytes, renal cells,
cardiomyocytes, hematopoietic stem cells, etc. The modulation
and protective effect of curcumin on cytokine storm-related
disorders are also discussed. Collectively, this review provides
grounds for its clinical evaluation in the therapeutic
management of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
The combination of
bromelain and curcumin as an immune-boosting nutraceutical in
the prevention of severe COVID-19
Metabolism | January 2021
The antiviral actions of curcumin
against multiple viruses (influenza and hepatitis viruses,
herpes viruses, human papilloma virus, human immunodeficiency
virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus and other
coronaviruses), bacteria and fungi have been established by
experimental evidence. Remarkably, recent evidence from in
silico studies has demonstrated that curcumin prevents
SARS-CoV-2 entry into cells by blocking the viral binding sites
and the cell ligands (spike protein, ACE-2 receptors and
basigin), downregulating trans-membrane serine protease 2
(TMPRSS-2), and by interfering with viral replication through
the interaction with various viral proteins Curcumin
(diferuloylmethane) is a natural phenol found in turmeric
(Curcuma longa), a member of the ginger family of plants.
Curcumin modulates inflammation preventing the subsequent
cytokine storm by inhibiting multiple transcription factors such
as nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and signal transducer and
activator of transcription 3 (STAT-3), and downregulating the
proinflammatory cytokines, as this has been demonstrated in
human macrophages after influenza virus infection. Additionally,
curcumin inhibits ACE modulating angiotensin II synthesis and
downregulating inflammation, while it also promotes fibrinolysis
and the anticoagulation process. Notably, bromelain
substantially increases the absorption of curcumin after oral
administration. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first
report highlighting the significance of bromelain and, most
importantly, the potential preventive value of the synergistic
effects of bromelain and curcumin against severe COVID-19.
The
potential anti-cancer properties of curcumin in liver cancer
In Vivo | January 2021
Curcumin is a polyphenol that exerts a
variety of pharmacological activities and plays an anti-cancer
role in many cancer cells. Curcumin increased the expression of
the GSDME N-terminus and proteins involved in pyrolysis,
promoted HspG2 cell pyrolysis and increased intracellular ROS
levels. Moreover, inhibition of the production of intracellular
ROS with n-acetylcysteine (NAC) improved the degree of apoptosis
and pyrolysis induced by curcumin. Curcumin induces HspG2 cell
death by increasing apoptosis and pyroptosis, and ROS play a key
role in this process. This study improves our
understanding of the potential anti-cancer properties of
curcumin in liver cancer.
The role of curcumin, a potent constituent of
turmeric in pleiotropic health beneficial effects
Journal
of Biologically Active Products from Nature | January 2021
Curcumin (1,6- heptadiene- 3,5 - dione- 1,7 - bis
(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl) - (1E,6E) or diferuloylmethane),
isolated from Curcuma longa, is a highly promising natural
compound that has several health benefits. Supplementation
of curcumin provided significant (p < 0.05) protection against
HgCl2 induced alterations by ameliorating the levels of ROS,
PCO, SA, and -SH in erythrocytes membrane and plasma. Thus, the
curcumin protects against HgCl2 induced oxidative stress. It
also provides an insight into the role of curcumin, a potent
constituent of turmeric in pleiotropic health beneficial
effects.
Anti-inflammatory
effects of oral supplementation with curcumin: a systematic
review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Nutrition Reviews | January 2021
Curcumin, a bioactive polyphenol from turmeric, is a well-known
anti-inflammatory agent in preclinical research. Thirty-two
trials (N = 2,038 participants) were included and 28 were
meta-analyzed using a random-effects model; effect sizes were
expressed as Hedges’ g (95%CI). Pooled data (reported here
as weighted mean difference [WMD]; 95%CI) showed a reduction in
C-reactive protein (−1.55 mg/L; −1.81 to −1.30), interleukin-6
(−1.69 pg/mL, −2.56 to −0.82), tumor necrosis factor α
(−3.13 pg/mL; −4.62 to −1.64), IL-8 (−0.54 pg/mL; −0.82 to
−0.28), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (−2.48 pg/mL; −3.96
to −1.00), and an increase in IL-10 (0.49 pg/mL; 0.10 to 0.88),
with no effect on intracellular adhesion molecule-1. These
findings provide evidence for the anti-inflammatory effects of
curcumin and support further investigation to confirm dose,
duration, and formulation to optimize anti-inflammatory effects
in humans with chronic inflammation.
Curcumin has been reported to exhibit protective
effects on degeneration in articular cartilage diseases
Cell Biology International | January 2021
Articular cartilage damage and chondrocyte apoptosis are common
features of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Curcumin
pretreatment reduced IL‐1β‐induced articular chondrocyte
apoptosis. Additionally, treatment with curcumin increased
autophagy in articular chondrocytes, and protected against
IL‐1β‐induced apoptosis. These results indicate that
curcumin may suppress IL‐1β‐induced chondrocyte apoptosis
through activating autophagy and restraining NF‐κB signaling
pathway.
Curcumin, the primary active ingredient in turmeric, reportedly
exerts potent antifibrotic effects
Basic &
Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology | January 2021
These
results indicate that curcumin is a promising treatment agent
for RIF, and its antifibrotic effects may be mediated by the
inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome activity through the regulation
of autophagy and protection of mitochondrial function in UUO
rats.
Curcumin Suppresses Cell Growth
Life Sciences | January 2021
Curcumin induced Ac-p53 and p21
to suppress cell proliferation. Curcumin increased p-Akt
and attenuated fluoride-mediated apoptosis and DNA damage.
Curcumin suppressed fluoride-induced p-p21 and increased p21 in
the nuclear fraction.
Dichloroacetic acid-induced dysfunction in rat
hippocampus and the protective effect of curcumin
Metabolic Brain Disease | January 2021
Various doses of
curcumin attenuated DCAA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation
response and impaired synaptic plasticity, while elevating cAMP,
PKA, p-CREB, BDNF, PSD-95, SYP levels. Thus, curcumin could
activate the cAMP-PKA-CREB signaling pathway, conferring
neuroprotection against DCAA-induced neurotoxicity.
Curcumin protects radiation-induced liver damage in
rats through the NF-κB signaling pathway
Complementary Medicine and Therapies | January 2021
Curcumin
has been demonstrated to exert anti-oxidant, anti-fibrotic,
anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer activities. Our study
highlights that curcumin treatment reduces the liver damage
caused by radiation through the inhibition of the NF-κB pathway.
Oral
administration of curcumin shows hepatoprotective effects
Environmental Toxicology | January 2021
Curcumin pretreatment
develops an amelioration of these effects in APAP‐overdose,
R‐exposure, or R/APAP treatments. In conclusion, oral
administration of curcumin shows hepatoprotective effects
against APAP‐overdose induced hepatic damage in normal and
gamma‐irradiated rats through prospective regulation of the
therapeutic targets CYP2E1, Nrf2, and NF‐κB, via organizing the
miR‐122 and miR‐802 gene expression.
Curcumin, as a good
all-natural drug for the treatment of IBD, possesses good
prospects in clinical application
Molecular Medicine Reports | January 2021
Curcumin is an
all-natural compound extracted from plants. It has many
biological activities including anti-inflammatory,
anti-infective and immune-regulating, and it protects the
intestinal mucosa and repairs the function of intestinal tissue.
Other similar studies have shown that in the DSS-induced colitis
model, curcumin is found to significantly improve intestinal
inflammation, repair the intestinal mucosa and inhibit the
expression of TNF-α and p38MAPK. Curcumin itself has
anti-inflammatory and anti-infective effects. At the same time,
curcumin can reduce and inhibit the exudation of neutrophils and
macrophages, regulate intestinal immune disorders, reduce
intestinal endothelial cell swelling and increase permeability,
which further reduces intestinal inflammation. Curcumin can
significantly decrease the DAI and SI of the mice with colitis.
Curcumin, as a good all-natural drug for the treatment of IBD,
possesses good prospects in clinical application.
Effect of Curcumin on Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
AIP Conference Proceedings | January 2021
Curcumin has been
reported to efficiently inhibit cancer cell lines, including
MCF7, K562, HeLa,and 4T1. Previous study of curcumin on 4T1
breast cancer cells showed that the IC50 values were 93,14 μM.
The main mechanisms of action by which curcumin exhibits its
040024-2 unique anti-cancer activity include inducing apoptosis
and inhibiting proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of tumors
by suppressing a variety of cellular signaling pathways. Several
research on various breast cancer cell lines demonstrate the
anti-cancer activity of curcumin through the inhibition of NF-κB
activity. Curcumin, the yellow pigment isolated from
turmeric, has been reported to suppress NF-κB. Several studies
reported that curcumin inhibits NF-κB through inhibition of IKK
phosphorylation and inhibition of translocation to the nucleus.
Curcumin selectively inhibits NF-κB p105 mRNA expression on 4T1
breast cancer cell line by interacting with the backbone of Ile
residue in RH domain region. This study highlights the potency
of curcumin to be developed as a chemotherapeutic targeted NF-κB
for triple-negative breast cancer in the future.
Curcumin has a certain antagonized effect on cardiac
arrhythmia and has potential application prospects
Frontiers in Physiology | January 2021
Curcumin is a natural
yellow polyphenolic substance, the main active alkaloid
extracted from the rhizome of turmeric, a rhizomatous herbaceous
perennial plant belonging to the family Zingiberaceae, which has
been used as an antiseptic and antipyretic folk medicine for
centuries. Previous researches have shown that curcumin has extensive
pharmacological activities and has been put into clinical
practice. Increasing evidence showed that curcumin has a
protective effect against cardiovascular disease. For instance,
curcumin can prevent the development of heart failure by
inhibiting p300 histone acetyltransferase activity, antagonized
sodium fluoride intoxication in rat heart, prevented
isoprenaline (ISO)-induced cardiac hypertrophy, and can have a
protective effect against the myocardial infarction injury. In
addition, curcumin was reported to prevent the QTc prolongation
in ISO-induced myocardial infarction. Curcumin is also a
multi-ion channel blocker that inhibits ICa.L and IKr and
preferentially blocks INa.L, shortens APD, suppresses EADs and
DADs at the cellular level, prevents I/R-induced arrhythmia at
the organ level, and may have potential antiarrhythmic property.
Curcumin can prevent the occurrence of arrhythmias after
reperfusion, which is beneficial for the recovery of isolated
heart suffering from I/R injury.
New
evidence for the potential anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular
protective effects of curcumin
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine | January
2021
Curcumin is the most active component of spice turmeric
(also called curry powder), mainly found in turmeric roots
(Curcuma longa L.). It has long been studied for its
antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, antimicrobial,
and anticancer properties. In the recent years, curcumin has
been extensively investigated for its therapeutic value. Its
anti-inflammatory effect which is equivalent to that of
steroidal and nonsteroidal drugs, e.g., indomethacin and
phenylbutazone, is one of the most studied properties. In
various inflammation-related chronic illnesses such as
cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and obesity, curcumin
has shown good therapeutic effects. The present study shows that
curcumin suppresses aldosterone-induced CRP generation in VSMCs
by interfering with the ROS-ERK1/2 signaling pathway. These
results reveal a mechanism through which curcumin represses
inflammation and confers cardiovascular protection. Our findings
further confirm the anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular
protective effects of curcumin and suggest its potential
clinical use in cardiovascular inflammation.
Curcumin may be an attractive natural candidate for further
investigation and development in the quest for Parkinson's
disease therapeutics
International Journal
of Molecular Sciences | January 2021
The polyphenolic
ingredient of dietary turmeric (Curcuma longa), curcumin, has
attracted attention due to its multiple benefits to patients
with various diseases including Parkinson's disease. Several
studies have demonstrated that curcumin treatment significantly
inhibits the toxin-induced loss of dopaminergic neurons in both
cultured cells and animal models. Curcumin was found to exert
neuroprotective effects mediating anti-oxidant,
anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties and improve
neurological functions in various animal models of Parkinson's
disease. Our results demonstrated that intragastric curcumin
treatment (200 mg/kg) significantly improved the abnormal motor
behavior and offered neuroprotection against the reduction of
dopaminergic neurons, as determined by tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)
immunoreactivity in the substantia nigra and caudoputamen. In
conclusion, this study demonstrates that curcumin has a
neuroprotective effect in a 6-hydroxydopmine (6-OHDA) rat model
of PD via an α7-nAChR-mediated mechanism. The findings of the
present study demonstrate that curcumin improves the survival of
TH striatal fibers and neurons in SNpc and diminishes abnormal
turning behavior in a 6-OHDA-induced rat model of PD. In the
present study, abrogation of the protective effects of curcumin
by pretreatment with MLA, an α7-nAChR-selective antagonist,
clearly demonstrates that neuroprotective effects of curcumin
are mediated by α7-nAChRs. Our findings clearly demonstrate that
α7-nAChRs may be an attractive therapeutic target for PD and
curcumin appears to be the first agent of natural origin to
modulate α7-nAChRs in PD. Integrating our earlier observation
that curcumin acts as a type II PAM of α7-nAChRs and potentiates
receptor function by significantly decreasing desensitization,
it is apparent that the PAM action of curcumin on α7-nAChRs
exerts beneficial effects in mediating neuroprotective effects.
Time-tested safety and neuroprotective efficacy of curcumin and
preliminary clinical success of agents targeting nicotinic
receptors in Parkinson's disease.
Curcumin has been
reported to exhibit protective effects on degeneration in
articular cartilage diseases
Cell Biology | January 2021
Articular cartilage damage and
chondrocyte apoptosis are common features of rheumatoid
arthritis and osteoarthritis. These results indicate that
curcumin may suppress IL‐1β‐induced chondrocyte apoptosis
through activating autophagy and restraining NF‐κB signaling
pathway.
Curcumin and NAC may be effective against
noise-induced hearing loss
Indian Journal
of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery | January 2021
We investigated the effectiveness of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) and
curcumin, which have known antioxidant and anti-inflammatory
effects, in reducing acoustic trauma. There was a statistically
significant difference in the third measurements in both groups
2 and 3, possibly due to curcumin and NAC treatment. This study
showed that curcumin and NAC may be effective against
noise-induced hearing loss.
Curcumin exhibits beneficial effect on bone fracture
healing
Medical Science Monitor | January
2021
Curcumin has been used for a very long time in
traditional medicine because of several pharmacological
properties. Multiple properties of curcumin include its role as
an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-fibrotic agent.
Additionally, studies have shown tumor growth inhibitory effect
and myocardial injury protecting property of curcumin. Although
studies on the use of curcumin in bone trauma treatment are
limited, reports suggest that curcumin may have a positive
effect in bone remodeling. The current study investigated
curcumin for bone trauma treatment in a rat model and evaluated
the related mechanism. Curcumin activates autophagy and inhibits
mTOR activation in bone tissues of rats with trauma. The
curcumin promoted myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC)
proliferation and increased expansion of MDSCs in a rat model of
trauma. Therefore, curcumin may have beneficial effect in
patients with bone trauma and should be evaluated further for
development of treatment.
A
novel application of curcumin in tumor therapy
Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics | January 2021
Curcumin promotes cancer-associated fibroblasts apoptosis via
ROS-mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress. Curcumin is a natural
polyphenol derived from turmeric, which has been shown to
inhibit the growth of many types of tumor. We found that
curcumin induced the apoptosis and cell cycle arrest of CAFs,
which is mainly caused by the ROS-mediated endoplasmic reticulum
stress pathway. Our study suggests that curcumin selectively
inhibits prostate-CAFs by inducing apoptosis and cell cycle
arrest in G2-M phase, indicating a novel application of curcumin
in tumor therapy.
Curcumin may be an alternate to antimicrobial drugs
for the therapeutic management of endometritis
Molecular Biology Reports | January 2021
Curcumin inhibited
the basal and LTA+LPS induced production of PGE2 and
upregulation of PIC production. It was apparent that LPS, but
not LTA, is a potent stimulator of PGE2 from the bubaline
endometrial stromal cells. Curcumin downregulated the expression
of LPS and/or LTA induced PICs and PGE2 and may be an alternate
to antimicrobial drugs for the therapeutic management of
endometritis.
Curcumin represents a promising therapy for Diabetes
mellitus induced cognitive impairments and memory deficits
Neurobiology of Disease | January 2021
Curcumin, derived from
the rhizome of Curcuma longa Linn, is a bright yellow spice that
shows strong anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-tumor
activities. Many studies have reported neuroprotective effects
of curcumin in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s
disease, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis. Our
previous study has also demonstrated a protective effect of
curcumin on LPS- induced neuroinfammation in vitro. The present
study revealed that curcumin treatment effectively protected
against DM/CCH-induced cognitive dysfunction, as well as
attenuated neuronal injury and death in the CA1, CA3, and DG
regions of the hippocampus. Molecular-biology analysis revealed
that the underlying mechanisms of curcumin’s protective effects
were associated with inhibiting neuroinflammation. We
demonstrated that curcumin attenuated DM/CCH-induced cognitive
defcits and hippocampal neuronal damage in rats, and that its
underlying mechanisms were associated with inhibiting
neuroinflammation, regulating the TREM2/TLR4/NF-κB pathway,
suppressing excessive apoptosis, and mitigating NLRP3-dependent
pyroptosis. These findings suggest that curcumin may be useful
as a pharmacological strategy for ameliorating Diabetes mellitus
/CCH-induced memory deficits.
Curcumin exhibited renoprotective, antioxidant,
anti-inflammatory properties, especially curcumin exerted the
most pronounced effect as an anti-inflammatory and
anti-apoptotic reflecting its powerful effect against bacteria
and sepsis-induced kidney injury
Future
Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences | January 2021
Curcumin a
polyphenol extracted from turmeric gained interest as a
potentially safe and inexpensive treatment for kidney diseases.
Inflammatory markers were greatly reduced by both curcumin and
propolis, only curcumin pretreatment attenuated NF-kB activation
in kidney tissue of septic rat.
The protective effect of curcumin on ACR-intoxicated
brains
BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology |
January 2021
Curcumin is well known for its classic and
strong anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. As the
most active constituent in turmeric, a common spice, with a
strong safety record, curcumin has been considered to be a
potential natural neuroprotective agent under limelight. Based
on its known antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptosis
activities, curcumin has been shown to protect the neurons
against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, dysfunction linked
with Parkinson’s disease mediated by Bisphenol-A,
sleep-deprivation induced memory impairments, and depression.
Prasad and Muralidhara have demonstrated the neuroprotective
effect of curcumin in an ACR model of neurotoxicity in an insect
species, Drosophila melanogaster. A recently published study
reported that curcumin would exert a protective effect against
ACR-induced spatial memory impairment in rats. The phenolic
structure in curcumin confers electron-capturing properties,
which destabilize ROS, explaining the well-accepted antioxidant
effects. Curcumin alleviated the augmented production of MDA and
the reduction of antioxidant capacity induced by ACR, thus might
play a role in the detoxification of reactive oxygen species
generated by ACR. Curcumin could improve the ACR-induced
neuroinflammation, which was in accord with its proven
anti-inflammatory property.
Curcumin: Could This Compound Be Useful in Pregnancy
and Pregnancy-Related Complications?
Nutrients | January 2021
Curcumin, the main polyphenol
contained in turmeric root (Curcuma longa), has played a
significant role in medicine for centuries. The
pleiotropic and multi-targeting actions of curcumin have made it
very attractive as a health-promoting compound. In spite of the
beneficial effects observed in various chronic diseases in
humans, limited and fragmentary information is currently
available about curcumin’s effects on pregnancy and
pregnancy-related complications. The reported anti-inflammatory,
antioxidant, antitoxicant, neuroprotective, immunomodulatory,
antiapoptotic, antiangiogenic, anti-hypertensive, and
antidiabetic properties of curcumin appear to be encouraging,
not only for the management of pregnancy-related disorders,
including gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), preeclampsia
(PE), depression, preterm birth, and fetal growth disorders but
also to contrast damage induced by natural and chemical toxic
agents. Curcumin, a compound extracted from the rhizome of
Curcuma longa, has been extensively studied in light of a wide
range of properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant,
anti-toxicant, antiapoptotic, immunomodulatory, neuroprotective,
hepatoprotective, antiangiogenic, anti-hypertensive, and
antidiabetic activities, emerging as a candidate therapeutic
agent for several diseases. Curcumin, also called
diferuloylmethane, is a lipophilic polyphenol extracted from the
rhizome of Curcuma Longa (commonly known as turmeric). It has
been widely used in traditional Indian and Chinese medicine for
thousands of years. The pharmacological effects of turmeric have
been attributed mainly to curcuminoids, comprising curcumin and
two related compounds, demethoxycurcumin and
bisdemethoxycurcumin, which are contained in commercial
curcumin. Curcumin is a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant
agent that exerts a myriad of biological activities by
influencing multiple signaling pathways. Curcumin is able to
interact with a large number of molecular and cellular targets
and regulates gene expression also by modulating epigenetic
modifications (i.e., DNA methylation, histone modification, and
microRNA expression). This compound, by mutually interacting
with intestinal microflora, ameliorates gut microbiome
dysbiosis, and influences the “gut–brain–microflora axis” to
preserve and favor brain health. The overall result of these
different activities is the improvement in several disease
states, including inflammatory, metabolic, endocrine,
cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, neurological, respiratory,
viral, skin diseases, and cancer, as highlighted by the
impressive number of in vitro and in vivo studies summarized in
recent papers. Numerous clinical trials have shown good
tolerability, safety, and efficacy of curcumin in the treatment
of multiple chronic diseases—including cardiovascular diseases,
diabetes, neurodegeneration, arthritis, and cancer—at doses up
to 6–12 g/day. In light of this, the United States Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) has “Generally Recognized As Safe” (GRAS)
curcumin as an ingredient in various food categories (0.5–100
mg/100 g) [29]; and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food
(ANS), defined the Allowable Daily Intake (ADI) value of 0–3
mg/kg bw/day of curcumin as a food additive.
Archived studies and
news on curcumin and turmeric
1984 - 2020
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