Curcumin as a therapeutic agent: the evidence from in vitro, animal and human studies.
Curcumin is the active ingredient of turmeric. It is widely used as a kitchen spice and food colorant throughout India, Asia and the Western world. Curcumin is a major constituent of curry powder, to which it imparts its characteristic yellow colour. For over 4000 years, curcumin has been used in traditional Asian and African medicine to treat a wide variety of ailments. There is a strong current public interest in naturally occurring plant-based remedies and dietary factors related to health and disease. Curcumin is non-toxic to human subjects at high doses. It is a complex molecule with multiple biological targets and different cellular effects. Recently, its molecular mechanisms of action have been extensively investigated. It has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-cancer properties. Under some circumstances its effects can be contradictory, with uncertain implications for human treatment. While more studies are warranted to further understand these contradictions, curcumin holds promise as a disease-modifying and chemopreventive agent. We review the evidence for the therapeutic potential of curcumin from in vitro studies, animal models and human clinical trials.
Epstein
Jenny
J
Centre for Digestive Diseases, Institute of Cell and Molecular Science, Barts and the London School of Medicine, Queen Mary, University of London, 4 Newark Street, London E1 2AT, UK. j.epstein@qmul.ac.uk
Sanderson
Ian R
IR
Macdonald
Thomas T
TT
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D002460:Cell Line; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003474:Curcumin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000187:drug effects
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D014157:Transcription Factors; D003474:Curcumin