Clinical studies with curcumin.
Curcumin has long been expected to be a therapeutic or preventive agent for several major human diseases because of its antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anticancerous effects. In phase I clinical studies, curcumin with doses up to 3600-8000 mg daily for 4 months did not result in discernible toxicities except mild nausea and diarrhea. The pharmacokinetic studies of curcumin indicated in general a low bioavailability of curcumin following oral application. Nevertheless, the pharmacologically active concentration of curcumin could be achieved in colorectal tissue in patients taking curcumin orally and might also be achievable in tissues such as skin and oral mucosa, which are directly exposed to the drugs applied locally or topically. The effect of curcumin was studied in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory eye diseases, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic pancreatitis, psoriasis, hyperlipidemia, and cancers. Although the preliminary results did support the efficacy of curcumin in these diseases, the data to date are all preliminary and not conclusive. It is imperative that well-designed clinical trials, supported by better formulations of curcumin or novel routes of administration, be conducted in the near future.
Hsu
Chih-Hung
CH
Department of Oncology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei. chih@ha.mc.ntu.edu.tw
Cheng
Ann-Lii
AL
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001682:Biological Availability; D017321:Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D003474:Curcumin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000188:drug therapy; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000188:drug therapy; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003474:Curcumin