Why it is necessary to translate curcumin into clinical practice for the prevention and treatment of metabolic syndrome?

Abstract

Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is the yellow-orange pigment of dried Curcuma longa L. rhizomes (turmeric). During the past two decades, there has been a large volume of published studies describing the biological and pharmacological properties of this phytochemical including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antithrombotic, antiatherosclerotic, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, memory enhancing, antiparkinsonism, antirheumatic, anti-infectious, antiaging, antipsoriatic, and anticonvulsant activities. In addition, curcumin has been shown to be extremely safe and interact with multiple molecular targets that are involved in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome. Curcumin could favorably affect all leading components of metabolic syndrome including insulin resistance, obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, decreased HDL-C and hypertension, and prevent the deleterious complications of MetS including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Owing to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, curcumin can also exert several pleiotropic effects and improve endothelial dysfunction, adipokine imbalances, and hyperuricemia which usually accompany MetS. Despite the potential tremendous benefit of this multifaceted phytopharmaceutical, no trial result has yet been publicized on this issue. This review seeks to briefly summarize the ample scientific evidence that supports the therapeutic efficacy of curcumin, at least as an adjunctive treatment, in patients with MetS.

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“…We highlight three noninvasive markers to predict metabolic disturbances and hepatic steatosis severity when critical limits are reached and exceeded: mice weight up to 26 g, MWR up to 2.5%, and PUI down to 0.17. As a perspective to improve health conditions of schizophrenic patients, this experimental approach (model and methodology) could represent a relevant tool to (i) define the best effective dose of ADPs to maintain CNS effects and minimize metabolic dark-side effects; (ii) evaluate the benefit of a functional food such as dietaries supplemented with omega-3 [47] or curcuminoids [48]; (iii) develop new drugs through the validation of new therapeutic strategies using an active principle or a new pharmacological adjuvant targeting the CNS or not, in a view to reduce metabolic disturbances.…”

An investigation of the effects of curcumin on anxiety and depression in obese individuals: A randomized controlled trial

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Dual Effect of Curcumin–Zinc Complex in Controlling Diabetes Mellitus in Experimentally Induced Diabetic Rats

“…4,5) Curcumin (diferuloylmethane), the most active component of turmeric isolated from the rhizomes of the plant Curcuma longa, has caught attention as a promising therapeutic agent in experimental diabetes and for the treatment of complications of diabetes. 6,7) Moreover, it is widely used in the folk treatment of different diseases attributed to its several biological applications; mainly as a significant antioxidant agent both in vivo and in vitro. 8,9) Curcumin has been suggested by many studies as an efficient therapeutic agent for treatment of diabetes, more than 215 publications with the search term "curcumin and diabetes" from the MEDLINE database in 2015.…”