Clinical Studies With Curcumin

Abstract

Curcumin has long been expected to be a therapeutic or preventive agent for several major human diseases because of its antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anticancerous effects. In phase I clinical studies, curcumin with doses up to 3600-8000 mg daily for 4 months did not result in discernible toxicities except mild nausea and diarrhea. The pharmacokinetic studies of curcumin indicated in general a low bioavailability of curcumin following oral application. Nevertheless, the pharmacologically active concentration of curcumin could be achieved in colorectal tissue in patients taking curcumin orally and might also be achievable in tissues such as skin and oral mucosa, which are directly exposed to the drugs applied locally or topically. The effect of curcumin was studied in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory eye diseases, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic pancreatitis, psoriasis, hyperlipidemia, and cancers. Although the preliminary results did support the efficacy of curcumin in these diseases, the data to date are all preliminary and not conclusive. It is imperative that well-designed clinical trials, supported by better formulations of curcumin or novel routes of administration, be conducted in the near future.

Crystal structure of ortho-(2E,5E)-2,5-bis(2-methoxybenzylidene) cyclopentanone, C21H20O3

“…During the last two decades, numerous studies have shown that curcumin has avariety of biological and pharmacological activities such as anti-carcinogen, immuno-modulation, anti-oxidant, anti-angiogenesis, anti-inflammation and chemoprevention [2][3][4][5]. However, pre-clinical and clinical studies have found that the potential beneficial effects of curcumin on various disease preventions and treatments are limited by its poor pharmacokinetic properties [6,7]. It is suggested that the presence of the methylene group and b-diketone moiety contributes to the instability of curcumin under physiological conditions [8,9].…”

Curcumin and its allied analogues: epigenetic and health perspectives - a review

“…Curcumin also activates the PPAR-g through inhibiting the NF-κB activity in HSCs (Park et al 2000). Moreover, curcumin also inhibits CTGF expression in HSCs through suppressing the activation of ERK, MAP kinase, and NF-κB (Hsu & Cheng 2007).…”

“…JNK, PPAR-g, AP-1, ERK, and NF-κB Zheng et al (2007) Activated the PPAR-g through inhibiting NF-кB activity in HSCs Park et al (2000) Inhibited CTGF expression in HSCs; Suppressed the activation of ERK, MAP kinase and NF-κB Hsu & Cheng (2007) Antidepressant activity…”

Effect of Curcumin on Oxidative Stress in a Model of Turpentine Induced Acute Experimental Inflammation

“…Several studies have shown that Curcumin is eight times more powerful than vitamin E in preventing lipid peroxidation, as marker of oxidative stress (Boyanapalli and Tony Kong, 2015). In addition to its chemotherapeutic activity, Curcumin has also been cited as a potential chemopreventive agent (Hsu and Cheng, 2007). It is thought to induce apoptosis in cancer cells and to inhibit phorbol ester-induced protein kinase C (PKC) activity.…”