title: Curcumin: from food spice to cancer prevention.
abstract: Curcumin [1, 7-bis (4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1, 6 heptadiene-3, 5-dione] is an orange-yellow component of turmeric (Curcuma longa), a spice often found in curry powder. It is known to have a variety of biologic and pharmacologic activities, including anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anticarcinogenic potential. It is a potent inhibitor of cytochrome P450 with capacity to simultaneously induce detoxifying enzymes such as glutathione S-transferase and as such may find application as a chemopreventive agent. Curcumin is a potent inhibitor of cyclooxygenase-2, lipooxygenase, ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), nuclear factor-kappaB, c-Jun N-terminal kinase and protein kinase C and has also been demonstrated to play a vital role against pathological conditions such as cancer, atherosclerosis, and neurodegenerative diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. ademolaoyagbemi@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ademola A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Oyagbemi
authors.forename: Adebowale B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Saba
authors.forename: Azeez O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Ibraheem
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D001092:Arachidonate 12-Lipoxygenase; D003474:Curcumin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D016859:Lipoxygenase Inhibitors; D015394:Molecular Structure; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D065108:Ornithine Decarboxylase Inhibitors; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D000975:Antioxidants; D016859:Lipoxygenase Inhibitors; D016328:NF-kappa B; D065108:Ornithine Decarboxylase Inhibitors; D001092:Arachidonate 12-Lipoxygenase; C476558:ALOX12 protein, human; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D003474:Curcumin