title: Curcumin in depressive disorders: An overview of potential mechanisms, preclinical and clinical findings.
abstract: Considering the high prevalence of psychiatric disorders, its social burden and the limitations of currently available treatments, alternative therapeutic approaches targeting different biological pathways have been investigated. Curcumin is a natural compound with multi-faceted pharmacological properties, interacting with several neurotransmitter systems and intracellular signaling pathways involved in mood regulation. Also, curcumin has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and neurotrophic effects, suggesting a strong potential to manage conditions associated with neurodegeneration, such as psychiatric disorders. Most literature data focused on the potential of curcumin to counteract behavioral and neurochemical alterations in preclinical models of depression. The findings still need to be further explored and clinical reports share some controversial results that might be associated with its low systemic bioavailability following oral administration. Other psychiatric disorders also have neurochemical alterations similar to those found in depression, including neurotoxicity, oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. Despite the limited number of reports, preclinical models investigated the potential role for curcumin in anxiety, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and autism spectrum disorders. Here, we will summarize the cellular targets of curcumin relevant to psychiatric disorders and its effects in preclinical and clinical studies with depression, anxiety disorders and other psychiatric related conditions.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica - Centro de Ciências Biológicas - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brasil.
authors.forename: Fernanda Neutzling
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Kaufmann
authors.affiliation: Centro de Ciências Químicas, Farmacêuticas e de Alimentos - Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brasil; Programa de Biologia Celular e Molecular - Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gazal
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde e Comportamento - Universidade Católica de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
authors.forename: Clarissa Ribeiro
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Bastos
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica - Centro de Ciências Biológicas - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brasil.
authors.forename: Manuella Pinto
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Kaster
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde e Comportamento - Universidade Católica de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Electronic address: ghisleni.g@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ghisleni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D003474:Curcumin
keywords: Curcumin; Curcumin properties; Major depression; Psychiatric disorders