Curcumin From Turmeric as an Adjunct Drug?

Padmanaban, G and Nagaraj, VA (2018) Curcumin From Turmeric as an Adjunct Drug? [Book Chapter]

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Abstract

Turmeric used widely in Indian cooking and its active metabolite curcumin have been shown to have beneficial effects in a very large number of disease conditions, including cancers, allergies, atherosclerosis, aging, neurodegenerative diseases, hepatic disorders, obesity, diabetes, psoriasis, and autoimmune diseases. Interestingly, curcumin is reported to act on numerous molecular targets, ranging from genes, transcription factors, cell signaling, and cell death processes. It can also interact with –SH groups in proteins and redox reagents as well as form complexes with metal ions. Over 100 clinical trials (completed and ongoing) for a large number of diseases with a preponderance of cancer trials have indicated positive outcomes, but with the invariable conclusion that large-scale validation using randomized trials are needed. However, curcumin is not an approved drug even for a single ailment, while it is certified as a GRAS molecule by FDA. A main reason advanced is its poor bioavailability and rapid metabolism indicative of poor pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties. In recent times, several nano and other formulations of curcumin and its derivatives have been reported with improved druggable properties. Studies in mice model of malaria indicate that curcumin is very effective to treat experimental malaria. As an adjunct drug, it is very effective in preventing parasite recrudescence in the mouse model and treating experimental cerebral malaria. Therefore, in addition to the direct mechanisms proposed based on in situ presence of curcumin transiently, it may also have long-term effects mediated by immune memory effects even with specific cancer antigens generated by the primary anticancer drug. Studies suggest that curcumin, as an adjunct drug, can decrease the dosage of the primary drug and prevent resistance development. Appropriate use of nano and other formulations of curcumin would be an option to explore curcumin as an adjunct drug for the treatment of a large number of afflictions. Studies with infectious diseases can give clear-cut results for the assessment of efficacy in a shorter time frame. Thus, curcumin may still prove to be a valuable adjunct drug, although it does not satisfy the demands of medicinal chemistry.

Item Type:	Book Chapter
Publication:	Studies in Natural Products Chemistry
Publisher:	Elsevier B.V.
Additional Information:	The copyright for this article belongs to Elsevier B.V.
Keywords:	Bioavailability; Curcumin; Immune memory; Multiple diseases; Multiple sites
Department/Centre:	Division of Biological Sciences > Biochemistry
Date Deposited:	13 Sep 2022 06:40
Last Modified:	13 Sep 2022 06:40
URI:	https://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/76083

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