title: "Spicing up" of the immune system by curcumin.
abstract: Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is an orange-yellow component of turmeric (Curcuma longa), a spice often found in curry powder. Traditionally known for its an antiinflammatory effects, curcumin has been shown in the last two decades to be a potent immunomodulatory agent that can modulate the activation of T cells, B cells, macrophages, neutrophils, natural killer cells, and dendritic cells. Curcumin can also downregulate the expression of various proinflammatory cytokines including TNF, IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, and chemokines, most likely through inactivation of the transcription factor NF-kappaB. Interestingly, however, curcumin at low doses can also enhance antibody responses. This suggests that curcumin's reported beneficial effects in arthritis, allergy, asthma, atherosclerosis, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, and cancer might be due in part to its ability to modulate the immune system. Together, these findings warrant further consideration of curcumin as a therapy for immune disorders.
authors.affiliation: Cytokine Research Laboratory, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Ganesh Chandra
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Jagetia
authors.forename: Bharat B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Aggarwal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D030024:Curcuma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D003474:Curcumin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016207:Cytokines / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D015394:Molecular Structure; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017365:Spices
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D016328:NF-kappa B; D003474:Curcumin