title: Molecular targets of curcumin for cancer therapy: an updated review.
abstract: In recent years, natural edible products have been found to be important therapeutic agents for the treatment of chronic human diseases including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegeneration. Curcumin is a well-known diarylheptanoid constituent of turmeric which possesses anticancer effects under both pre-clinical and clinical conditions. Moreover, it is well known that the anticancer effects of curcumin are primarily due to the activation of apoptotic pathways in the cancer cells as well as inhibition of tumor microenvironments like inflammation, angiogenesis, and tumor metastasis. In particular, extensive studies have demonstrated that curcumin targets numerous therapeutically important cancer signaling pathways such as p53, Ras, PI3K, AKT, Wnt-β catenin, mTOR and so on. Clinical studies also suggested that either curcumin alone or as combination with other drugs possess promising anticancer effect in cancer patients without causing any adverse effects. In this article, we critically review the available scientific evidence on the molecular targets of curcumin for the treatment of different types of cancer. In addition, we also discuss its chemistry, sources, bioavailability, and future research directions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Alagappa University (Science Campus), Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, 630 004, India. devikasi@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Pandima Devi
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Kasi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Alagappa University (Science Campus), Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, 630 004, India.
authors.forename: Rajavel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tamilselvam
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy with Medicinal Plants Unit, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Krystyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Skalicka-Woźniak
authors.affiliation: Applied Biotechnology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 19395-5487, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Fazel
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Nabavi
authors.affiliation: Department of Drug Sciences, Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology Section, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daglia
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Larkin Health Sciences Institute, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Anupam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bishayee
authors.affiliation: Physiology Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamidreza
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pazoki-Toroudi
authors.affiliation: Applied Biotechnology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 19395-5487, Tehran, Iran. Nabavi208@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Seyed Mohammad
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Nabavi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003474:Curcumin
keywords: Anticancer; Curcumin; Polyphenol; Turmeric