Curcumin in inflammatory diseases

Abstract

Curcumin (diferuloylmethane), a yellow coloring agent extracted from turmeric is also used as a remedy for the treatment and prevention of inflammatory diseases. Acute and chronic inflammation is a major factor in the progression of obesity, type II diabetes, arthritis, pancreatitis, cardiovascular, neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases, as well as certain types of cancer. Turmeric has a long history of use in Ayurvedic medicine for the treatment of inflammatory disorders. Recent studies on the efficacy and therapeutic applicability of turmeric have suggested that the active ingredient of tumeric is curcumin. Further, compelling evidence has shown that curcumin has the ability to inhibit inflammatory cell proliferation, invasion, and angiogenesis through multiple molecular targets and mechanisms of action. Curcumin is safe, non-toxic, and mediates its anti-inflammatory effects through the down-regulation of inflammatory transcription factors, cytokines, redox status, protein kinases, and enzymes that all promote inflammation. In addition, curcumin induces apoptosis through mitochondrial and receptor-mediated pathways, as well as activation of caspase cascades. In the current study, the anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin were evaluated relative to various chronic inflammatory diseases. Based on the available pharmacological data obtained from in vitro and in vivo research, as well as clinical trials, an opportunity exists to translate curcumin into clinics for the prevention of inflammatory diseases in the near future.

Potent Trypanocidal Curcumin Analogs Bearing a Monoenone Linker Motif Act on Trypanosoma brucei by Forming an Adduct with Trypanothione

“…It has been long known that curcumin has beneficial effects for some conditions and ailments due to now well documented anti-inflammatory effects (Shehzad et al, 2013). Anticarcinogenic, antiangiogenesis, and antimetastatic effects of this natural polyphenol by a plethora of proposed mechanisms have also been described (Kuttan et al, 2007;Fan et al, 2013;Norris et al, 2013).…”

Curcumin Inhibits the AKT/NF-κB Signaling via CpG Demethylation of the Promoter and Restoration of NEP in the N2a Cell Line

“…With anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and anti-carcinogenic properties by targeting various molecules such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), CUR has been extensively used as a food preservative in India (18)(19)(20). Now, it is showing promising results in clinical trials as a potential therapy for inflammatory and malignant diseases (21,22).…”

Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Curcumin and Capsaicin Augmented in Combination

“…Curcumin, the yellow colouring principle of turmeric (Curcuma longa) and Capsaicin, the principle pungent component of red pepper (Capsicum annuum) are naturally occurring active principles. Clinical pharmacological studies on dietary curcumin and capsaicin have been proven to possesses promising health beneficial therapeutic potential such as anti-arthritic [12,13], antiinflammatory [14,15], antitumor and anticancer [16][17][18], antihypoglycemic [19] and lipid-lowering activities [20]. Mechanism of action, which is responsible for the health beneficial pharmacological activity of these two commonly used curcumin and capsaicin have been extensively studied and reported [21][22][23][24][25].…”