title: Novel delivery system for natural products: Nano-curcumin formulations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Curcumin is extracted from Curcuma longa and regulates the intracellular signal pathways which control the growth of cancerous cell, inflammation, invasion and apoptosis. Curcumin molecules have special intrinsic features that can target the intracellular enzymes, genome (DNA) and messengers (RNA). A wide range of studies have been conducted on the physicochemical traits and pharmacological effects of curcumin on different diseases like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer's, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and even it has wound healing. Oral bioavailability of curcumin is rather poor, which would certainly put some boundaries in the employment of this drug.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bibliographical searches were performed using MEDLINE/ScienceDirect/OVID up to February 2015 using the following keywords (all fields): ("Curcumin" OR "Curcuma longa") AND [(nanoparticles) OR (Nanomicelles) OR (micro emulsions) OR (liposome) OR (phospholipid).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Consequently, for any developments of curcumin in the future, analogues of curcumin that have better bioavailability or substitute formulations are needed crucially.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These studies indicated that nanotechnology can formulate curcumin effectively, and this nano-formulated curcumin with a potent ability against various cancer cells, were represented to have better efficacy and bioavailability under in vivo conditions.
authors: Students Research Committee, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran; Department of Modern Sciences & Technologies, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors: Hamid Reza
authors: HR
authors: Rahimi
authors: Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors: Reza
authors: R
authors: Nedaeinia
authors: Students Research Committee, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
authors: Alireza
authors: A
authors: Sepehri Shamloo
authors: Students Research Committee, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
authors: Shima
authors: S
authors: Nikdoust
authors: Neurogenic Inflammation Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors: Reza
authors: R
authors: Kazemi Oskuee
keywords: Curcumin; Curcumin Nano formulations; Nano micelle