Curcumin and neurodegenerative diseases: a perspective.
BACKGROUND
Curcumin, a dietary polyphenol found in the curry spice turmeric, possesses potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and an ability to modulate multiple targets implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic illness. Curcumin has shown therapeutic potential for neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD).


METHODS
This article highlights the background and epidemiological evidence of curcumin's health benefits and its pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic profile. Curcumin's ability to counteract oxidative stress and inflammation and its capacity to modulate several molecular targets is reviewed. We highlight the neuroprotective properties of curcumin including pre-clinical evidence for its pharmacological effects in experimental models of AD and PD. The bioavailability and safety of curcumin, the development of semi-synthetic curcuminoids as well as novel formulations of curcumin are addressed.


CONCLUSIONS
Curcumin possesses therapeutic potential in the amelioration of a host of neurodegenerative ailments as evidenced by its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-protein aggregation effects. However, issues such as limited bioavailability and a paucity of clinical studies examining its therapeutic effectiveness in illnesses such as AD and PD currently limit its therapeutic outreach. Considerable effort will be required to adapt curcumin as a neuroprotective agent to be used in the treatment of AD, PD and other neurodegenerative diseases.
College of Pharmacy, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH 44272, USA.
Altaf S
AS
Darvesh
Richard T
RT
Carroll
Anupam
A
Bishayee
Nicholas A
NA
Novotny
Werner J
WJ
Geldenhuys
Cornelis J
CJ
Van der Schyf
D000818:Animals; D003474:Curcumin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D006801:Humans; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D003474:Curcumin