title: Recent progress on curcumin-based therapeutics: a patent review (2012-2016). Part I: Curcumin.
abstract: curcumin is the main bioactive component contained in Curcuma Longa, largely employed in traditional medicine. Recently, beneficial properties, useful for prevention and treatment of several disorders, have been discovered for this compound. Peculiar structural feature is an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl system essential for establishing contacts with critical cysteine residues of several targets. This distinctive mechanism of action imparts to the molecule the ability to affect a large number of targets, accounting for its pleiotropic behaviour and definition of "privileged structure". Areas covered: The objective of the review is an examination of the recent developments in the field of the anti-cancer applications of curcumin, together with formulation issues, considering the patent literature in the years 2012-2016. Expert opinion: The wide therapeutic efficacy of curcumin is related to synergistic interactions with several biological targets, along with the modulation of several signaling pathways. This peculiar behaviour could be useful in the treatment of multifactorial diseases such as cancer. Combination of curcumin with a first line antineoplastic drug proved to be a valuable strategy to obtain an amplified response with minimized side effects. Innovative curcumin formulations based on the nanotechnology approach allowed improving both bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology , Alma Mater Studiorum-Bologna University , Bologna , Italy.
authors.forename: Rita Maria Concetta
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Di Martino
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology , Alma Mater Studiorum-Bologna University , Bologna , Italy.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Luppi
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology , Alma Mater Studiorum-Bologna University , Bologna , Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bisi
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology , Alma Mater Studiorum-Bologna University , Bologna , Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gobbi
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology , Alma Mater Studiorum-Bologna University , Bologna , Italy.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rampa
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology , Alma Mater Studiorum-Bologna University , Bologna , Italy.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abruzzo
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology , Alma Mater Studiorum-Bologna University , Bologna , Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Belluti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D001682:Biological Availability; D030024:Curcuma / Q000737:chemistry; D003474:Curcumin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D036103:Nanotechnology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010330:Patents as Topic
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003474:Curcumin
keywords: Cancer; curcumin; delivery strategies; multitarget compounds; nanosystems; natural products; privileged structures