Neuroprotective Effects of Curcumin in Cerebral Ischemia: Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms

Abstract

Despite being a major global health concern, cerebral ischemia/stroke has limited therapeutic options. Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is the only available medication to manage acute ischemic stroke, but this medication is associated with adverse effects and has a narrow therapeutic time window. Curcumin, a polyphenol that is abundantly present in the rhizome of the turmeric plant (Curcuma longa), has shown promising neuroprotective effects in animal models of neurodegenerative diseases, including cerebral ischemia. In the central nervous system (CNS), neuroprotective effects of curcumin have been experimentally validated in Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and cerebral ischemia. Curcumin can exert pleiotropic effects in the postischemic brain including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic, vasculoprotective, and direct neuroprotective efficacies. Importantly, neuroprotective effects of curcumin has been reported in both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke models. A broad-spectrum neuroprotective efficacy of curcumin suggested that curcumin can be an appealing therapeutic strategy to treat cerebral ischemia. In this review, we aimed to address the pharmacotherapeutic potential of curcumin in cerebral ischemia including its cellular and molecular mechanisms of neuroprotection revealing curcumin as an appealing therapeutic candidate for cerebral ischemia.

Inhibition of Oxidative Stress: An Important Molecular Mechanism of Chinese Herbal Medicine (Astragalus membranaceus, Carthamus tinctorius L., Radix Salvia Miltiorrhizae, etc.) in the Treatment of Ischemic Stroke by Regulating the Antioxidant System

“…The consumption of polyphenol-rich foods has been related to a lower risk of cardiovascular events (cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarction, and stroke) and cardiovascular risk factors [ 87 ]. Curcumin, a polyphenol abundant in the rhizome of the turmeric plant (Curcuma longa), has shown promising neuroprotective effects in animal models of neurodegenerative diseases [ 88 ]. Curcumin could prevent mitochondrial dysfunction as it acts by enhancing the action of enzymes of the antioxidant defense system SOD, CAT, and GSH [ 89 ].…”

Curcumin Restrains Oxidative Stress of After Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Rat by Activating the Nrf2/HO-1 Pathway

“…Therefore, it is very effective in indirectly maintaining the redox balance in the central nervous system by regulating the Nrf2 pathway in glial cells ( Zhao et al, 2007a ). In vivo and in vitro studies have demonstrated that oral curcumin can inhibit the oxidative stress injury caused by ischemia—reperfusion, and this treatment can significantly reduce ROS in brain tissue and promote the expression of antioxidant genes ( Subedi and Gaire, 2021 ). This outcome may be due to curcumin-mediated activation of the Nrf/ARE pathway, thereby inhibiting oxidative stress ( Li et al, 2016 ).…”

Active Components of Traditional Chinese Medicinal Material for Multiple Myeloma: Current Evidence and Future Directions

“…Curcumin exhibits a wide spectrum of pharmacological effects including anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anticancer, anti-viral, and neuroprotective effects. The mechanisms of action of curcumin against various cancers and other disorders have been intensively reviewed, such as breast cancer (Hu et al, 2019), colorectal cancer (Pricci et al, 2020), lung cancer (Wan Mohd Tajuddin et al, 2019), cerebral ischemia (Subedi and Gaire, 2021), neurodegenerative diseases (Monroy et al, 2013), and diabetes (Pivari et al, 2019). An increasing body of evidence from clinical and experimental studies has shown the great potential of curcumin as anti-MM therapy.…”