title: Neuroprotective and neurotrophic curcuminoids to treat stroke: a translational perspective.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Curcumin has been investigated in preclinical and translational stroke models because of its pleiotropic 'neuroprotective' activities. Since curcumin has poor blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration following acute administration, creative medicinal chemistry has been used to modify the parent curcumin molecule, resulting in second generation curcuminoids, which have enhanced BBB penetration, improved pharmacokinetics and interact with multiple viable targets to treat stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review covers epidemiological, preclinical and translational data published between 2002 and 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There are two main goals: First, epidemiological data comparing the incidence of stroke in North America to that of India, a country where curcumin is a main-stay of the diet is presented. Second, the pharmacological characteristics of curcuminoids are detailed to determine if they should be further studied in translational stroke models for safety and efficacy prior to initiating clinical trials.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Curcumin and curcuminoids are neuroprotective in a variety of preclinical stroke models. The novel multi-target curcuminoid, CNB-001, has a superior safety and pharmacokinetic profile and should be further developed as an acute monotherapy or to be used in conjunction with thrombolytics for acute ischemic stroke.
authors.affiliation: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Department of Neurology, Davis Research Building, D-2091, 110 N. George Burns Road, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA. Paul.Lapchak@cshs.org
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Lapchak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000378:metabolism; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003474:Curcumin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009656:North America / Q000453:epidemiology; D010539:Permeability; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: C529348:CNB 001; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D011720:Pyrazoles; D003474:Curcumin