Curcumin: A dietary phytochemical for boosting exercise performance and recovery

Abstract

Curcumin, as the main natural compound in the turmeric plant (Curcuma longa), is a yellowish polyphenol that has been used traditionally in Asian countries as a medicinal herb for various types of disease and pathological conditions caused by inflammation and oxidative stress. In the present review, we conducted a comprehensive literature search for evidence that shows the effect of curcumin on factors influencing exercise performance, including muscle damage, muscle soreness, inflammation, and oxidative stress. During exercise, reactive oxygen species and inflammation are increased. Thus, if there is no balance between endogenous and exogenous antioxidants and increases in oxidative stress and inflammation, which is important for maintaining redox homeostasis in skeletal muscle, it can lead to muscle soreness and muscle damage and ultimately result in reduced exercise performance. Due to the anti‐oxidant and anti‐inflammatory properties of curcumin, it can increase exercise performance and decrease exercise‐induced muscle soreness and muscle damage. It appears that curcumin supplementation can have positive effects on exercise performance and recovery, muscle damage and pain, inflammation, and oxidative stress. However, there is still a need to precisely evaluate factors to more accurately assess/quantify the beneficial therapeutic effects of curcumin with regard to enhancing exercise performance and recovery.

Inclusion and Non‐Inclusion Complexes between Curcumin and β‐Cyclodextrin with High‐Curcumin Loading and Enhanced Aqueous Solubility Obtained by Mechanochemistry

“…[34] Cur, exhibiting a tautomeric keto-enol equilibrium (Figure 1), has shown miscellaneous therapeutic potentials as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, and antigenotoxic, [35][36][37] in addition to other beneficial properties. [38] Cur is a lipophilic polyphenol with meager aqueous solubility of 0.6 μg/mL, [39] which is pH dependent. [40] Due to its high hydrophobicity, Cur exhibits low serum and plasma levels, constrained biodistribution, rapid metabolism, and fast elimination from the body.…”

“…Cur, exhibiting a tautomeric keto‐enol equilibrium (Figure 1), has shown miscellaneous therapeutic potentials as antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, and antigenotoxic, [35–37] in addition to other beneficial properties [38] …”