title: Curcumin and Endothelial Function: Evidence and Mechanisms of Protective Effects.
abstract: The endothelium is a large paracrine organ regulating cell growth, vascular tone and thrombogenicity as well as platelet and leukocyte interactions. Endothelial function can be assessed by noninvasive techniques [e.g. flow-mediated vasodilation, nitroglycerin-mediated dilation and pulse wave velocity] and measuring specific circulating biomarkers [cell adhesion molecules, endothelial microparticles and endothelial progenitor cells]. Impaired endothelial function plays a key role in the development of atherosclerosis, arterial hypertension, heart failure, ischemia-reperfusion injury, Alzheimer's disease and other conditions. Endothelial function is also involved in growth and proliferation of tumor cells.
  
  
  
  We performed a literature review and assessed the role of the natural polyphenol, curcumin, as a potential inexpensive, well-tolerated, and safe agent for improving endothelial function.
  
  
  
  Curcumin exerts several positive pharmacological effects; these include anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-hypertensive, anti-cancer, antiviral, anti-infective and wound-healing properties. Specifically, curcumin's anti-inflammatory effects are thought to be caused by reducing trans-endothelial monocyte migration by reduction of mRNA and protein expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and P-selectin and by modulating NFκB, JNK, p38 and STAT-3 in endothelial cells. Dietary curcumin supplementation can also increase antioxidant activity through the induction of heme oxygenase-1, a scavenger of free radicals, and by reduction of reactive oxygen species and Nox-2.
  
  
  
  Curcumin appears to improve endothelial function but additional research is needed to determine the precise mechanism(s) and biomarkers involved in curcumin's therapeutic effects on endothelial dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Student Research Committee, Department of Modern Sciences & Technologies, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Karimian
authors.affiliation: Unit of Internal Medicine, Angiology and Arteriosclerosis Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, 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, Missouri, United States.
authors.forename: Thomas P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.affiliation: Sabinsa Corporation, East Windsor, NJ, United States.
authors.forename: Muhammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Majeed
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran, P.O. Box: 91779-48564, Iran.
authors.forename: Amirhossein
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sahebkar
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D003474:Curcumin
keywords: Curcumin; adhesion
  molecules; endothelial function; flow-mediated vasodilation; nitroglycerin-mediated dilation; pulse wave velocity