title: Curcumin as a multifaceted compound against human papilloma virus infection and cervical cancers: A review of chemistry, cellular, molecular, and preclinical features.
abstract: Curcumin, the bioactive polyphenolic ingredient of turmeric, has been extensively studied for its effects on human papilloma virus (HPV) infection as well as primary and malignant squamous cervical cancers. HPV infections, especially those related to HPV 16 and 18 types, have been established as the leading cause of cervical cancer; however, there are also additional contributory factors involved in the etiopathogenesis of cervical cancers. Curcumin has emerged as having promising chemopreventive and anticancer effects against both HPV-related and nonrelated cervical cancers. In this review, we first discuss the biological relevance of curcumin and both its pharmacological effects and pharmaceutical considerations from a chemical point of view. Next, the signaling pathways that are modulated by curcumin and are relevant to the elimination of HPV infection and treatment of cervical cancer are discussed. We also present counter arguments regarding the effects of curcumin on signaling pathways and molecular markers dysregulated by benzo(a)pyrene (Bap), a carcinogen found in pathological cervical lesions of women who smoke frequently, and estradiol, as two important risk factors involved in persistent HPV-infection and cervical cancer. Finally, various strategies to enhance the pharmacological activity and pharmacokinetic characteristics of curcumin are discussed with examples of studies in experimental models of cervical cancer. © 2016 BioFactors, 43(3):331-346, 2017.
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Research Center, Nanotechnology Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, 91775-1365, Iran.
authors.forename: Manouchehr
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Teymouri
authors.affiliation: Unit of Internal Medicine, Angiology and Arteriosclerosis Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pirro
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences School of Pharmacy, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Amirhosein
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sahebkar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003474:Curcumin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein / Q000819:agonists / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012307:Risk Factors; D015398:Signal Transduction; D012907:Smoking / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000819:agonists / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; C494826:BAX protein, human; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D003474:Curcumin
keywords: apoptosis; benzo(a)pyrene; cervical cancer; curcumin; human papilloma virus