Enhancing Therapeutic Efficacy of Curcumin: Advances in Delivery Systems and Clinical Applications

Abstract

Curcumin, a potent active compound found in turmeric and Curcuma xanthorrhiza oil, possesses a wide range of therapeutic properties, including antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and wound healing activities. However, its clinical effectiveness is hindered by its low bioavailability and rapid elimination from the body. To overcome these limitations, researchers have explored innovative delivery systems for curcumin. Some promising approaches include solid lipid nanoparticles, nanomicelle gels, and transdermal formulations for topical drug delivery. In the field of dentistry, curcumin gels have shown effectiveness against oral disorders and periodontal diseases. Moreover, Pickering emulsions and floating in situ gelling systems have been developed to target gastrointestinal health. Furthermore, curcumin-based systems have demonstrated potential in wound healing and ocular medicine. In addition to its therapeutic applications, curcumin also finds use as a food dye, contraception aid, corrosion-resistant coating, and environmentally friendly stain. This paper primarily focuses on the development of gel compositions of curcumin to address the challenges associated with its clinical use.

Development and Characterization of a Hydrogel Containing Curcumin-Loaded Nanoemulsion for Enhanced In Vitro Antibacteria and In Vivo Wound Healing

“…CUR was demonstrated in previous studies to have wound healing, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory effects [3,33]. The wound healing of CUR is also attributed to its antioxidant activity [34,35]. In the study of Ouyang et al, the results indicated that the free radical scavenging ability of the novel multifunctional hydrogel promoted hemostatic function in wound management [36].…”

“…In the study of Ouyang et al, the results indicated that the free radical scavenging ability of the novel multifunctional hydrogel promoted hemostatic function in wound management [36]. The antioxidant activities of CUR were protected in CUR-loaded NE and CUR-NE gels [35,37]. When the findings of the wound healing trial were analyzed, it revealed that the CUR-NE-based gel formulation had greater effectiveness than the CUR gel and commercial gel groups.…”

Monoketone Curcuminoids: An Updated Review of Their Synthesis and Biological Activities

“…For example, curcumin is poorly bioavailable, because it is barely Future Pharmacol. 2024, 4 55 absorbed and rapidly metabolized [9]. Moreover, it has low chemical stability under physiological conditions, because its β-diketone moiety is prone to hydrolysis [10].…”

Toxicity Evaluation and Controlled-Release of Curcumin-Loaded Amphiphilic Poly-N-vinylpyrrolidone Nanoparticles: In Vitro and In Vivo Models

“…Curcumin has a very promising property, namely increased uptake by tumor cells in vitro. Moreover, its pro-apoptotic effect increases with increasing intracellular concentration, which may be promising in the development of drugs against malignant neoplasms, including glioblastoma and colorectal cancer [ 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ]. Curcumin has also been shown to be effective not only as an anticancer drug but also in the fields of oral hygiene, periodontal therapy, gastrointestinal diseases, ophthalmic drugs and wound healing [ 37 ].…”