title: Relevance of the anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin in neurodegenerative diseases and depression.
abstract: This review is an attempt to summarize our current understanding of curcumin's potential as a neuroprotectant and an antidepressant. This dual property confers a unique advantage to this herbal medication, believed to be devoid of any major side effects, to combat commonly observed co-morbid conditions of a neurodegenerative and a neuropsychiatric disorder. Moreover, in line with the theme of this series, the role of inflammation and stress in these diseases and possible anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin, as well as its interaction with signal transduction proteins as a common denominator in its varied mechanisms of action, are also discussed. Thus, following a brief introduction of curcumin's pharmacology, we present research suggesting how its anti-inflammatory properties have therapeutic potential in treating a devastating neurological disorder (Parkinson's disease = PD) and a debilitating neuropsychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder = MDD). It is concluded that curcumin, or better yet, an analog with better and longer bioavailability could be of important therapeutic potential in PD and/or major depression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059, USA. ytizabi@howard.edu.
authors.forename: Yousef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tizabi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059, USA. laura.hurley@students.mq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Laura L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Hurley
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059, USA. quallszm@njms.rutgers.edu.
authors.forename: Zakiya
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Qualls
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059, USA. lra28@georgetown.edu.
authors.forename: Luli
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Akinfiresoye
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D003474:Curcumin