Curcumin‐free turmeric exhibits anti‐inflammatory and anticancer activities: Identification of novel components of turmeric

Abstract

Turmeric, a dried powder derived from the rhizome of Curcuma longa, has been used for centuries in certain parts of the world and has been linked to numerous biological activities including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antigrowth, anti-arthritic, anti-atherosclerotic, antidepressant, anti-aging, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, wound healing, and memory-enhancing activities. One component of turmeric is curcumin, which has been extensively studied, as indicated by more than 5600 citations, most of which have appeared within the past decade. Recent research has identified numerous chemical entities from turmeric other than curcumin. It is unclear whether all of the activities ascribed to turmeric are due to curcumin or whether other compounds in turmeric can manifest these activities uniquely, additively, or synergistically with curcumin. However, studies have indicated that turmeric oil, present in turmeric, can enhance the bioavailability of curcumin. Studies over the past decade have indicated that curcumin-free turmeric (CFT) components possess numerous biological activities including anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antidiabetic activities. Elemene derived from turmeric is approved in China for the treatment of cancer. The current review focuses on the anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities exhibited by CFT and by some individual components of turmeric, including turmerin, turmerone, elemene, furanodiene, curdione, bisacurone, cyclocurcumin, calebin A, and germacrone.

Neuroprotective effects of curcumin through autophagy modulation

“…Curcumin (1,7‐bis[4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxyphenyl]‐1,6‐heptadiene‐3,5‐dione) is scientifically known as diferuloylmethane, derived from the rhizomes of C. longa . Curcumin is the main active component in turmeric which constitutes for approximately 2–5% of turmeric . Curcumin contains three main compounds—80% curcuminoid complex, 17% dimethoxy‐curcumin, and 3% bisdemethoxy‐curcumin .…”

New Insights toward Colorectal Cancer Chemotherapy Using Natural Bioactive Compounds

“…Pharmacokinetic results showed that plasma curcumin levels in mice fed with turmeric extract were the highest ones (Aggarwal et al, 2013; Yue et al, 2016b). Interestingly, the combination of curcumin and turmerones abolishes tumor formation when fed to a dimethyl-hydrazine-initiated and DSS-promoted mouse model of CRC (Murakami et al, 2013).…”

Hydrodistillation condition adjustment for different material particle sizes: a method to increase batch‐to‐batch quality consistency

“…The extraction yields of five sesquiterpenes in RC, including curcumenone, curcumenol, curdione, curzerenone and furanodienone, were used to evaluate the quality of the extract, in consideration of their antiinflammatory and anticancer activities (Aggarwal et al, 2013) and protective effects on liver (Morikawa et al, 2002) and alcohol-induced drunkenness (Kimura et al, 2013). On the other hand, as the chemical compositions and bioactivities of the volatile compounds in FG were rarely reported, the extraction yields of the compounds in FG were not considered in this work.…”