title: Curcumin, an active component of turmeric in the prevention and treatment of ulcerative colitis: preclinical and clinical observations.
abstract: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) comprising of ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) is a major ailment affecting the small and large bowel. In clinics, IBD is treated using 5-amninosalicylates, antibiotics, the steroids and immunomodulators. Unfortunately, the long term usages of these agents are associated with undue side effects and compromise the therapeutic advantage. Accordingly, there is a need for novel agents that are effective, acceptable and non toxic to humans. Preclinical studies in experimental animals have shown that curcumin, an active principle of the Indian spice turmeric (Curcuma longa Linn) is effective in preventing or ameliorating UC and inflammation. Over the last few decades there has been increasing interest in the possible role of curcumin in IBD and several studies with various experimental models of IBD have shown it to be effective in mediating the inhibitory effects by scavenging free radicals, increasing antioxidants, influencing multiple signaling pathways, especially the kinases (MAPK, ERK), inhibiting myeloperoxidase, COX-1, COX-2, LOX, TNF-α, IFN-γ, iNOS; inhibiting the transcription factor NF-κB. Clinical studies have also shown that co-administration of curcumin with conventional drugs was effective, to be well-tolerated and treated as a safe medication for maintaining remission, to prevent relapse and improve clinical activity index. Large randomized controlled clinical investigations are required to fully understand the potential of oral curcumin for treating IBD.
authors: Department of Research and Development, Father Muller Medical College, Kankanady, Mangalore, Karnataka, India. msbaliga@gmail.com
authors: Manjeshwar Shrinath
authors: MS
authors: Baliga
authors: Nandhini
authors: N
authors: Joseph
authors: Marikunte V
authors: MV
authors: Venkataranganna
authors: Arpit
authors: A
authors: Saxena
authors: Venkatesh
authors: V
authors: Ponemone
authors: Raja
authors: R
authors: Fayad
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D030024:Curcuma / Q000737:chemistry*; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D016207:Cytokines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D016207:Cytokines; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D016328:NF-kappa B; D009195:Peroxidase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D011494:Protein Kinases; D003474:Curcumin