Therapeutic functions of Curcumin
Extensive research over the last half century indicates that curcumin (diferuloylmethane), a part of the gold spice turmeric (Curcuma longa), can regulate multiple cell signaling pathways. Extensive clinical trials within the last quarter century have addressed that the pharmacokinetics, safety, and efficacy of the nutraceutical against numerous ailments in people.
Some promising effects have been detected in patients using different pro-inflammatory ailments such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, uveitis, ulcerative proctitis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel disease, tropical pancreatitis, peptic ulcer, gastrointestinal ulcer, idiopathic orbital inflammatory pseudotumor, oral lichen planus, gastrointestinal inflammation, vitiligo, psoriasis, and severe coronary syndrome, atherosclerosis, and diabetes, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic microangiopathy, lupus nephritis, renal ailments, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, β-thalassemia, biliary dyskinesia, Dejerine-Sottas disease, cholecystitis, and chronic bacterial prostatitis.
Curcumin has also revealed protection against hepatic ailments, chronic arsenic exposure, and alcohol intoxication. Dose-escalating research have suggested the security of curcumin at dosages as large as 12 g/day more than 3 weeks. Curcumin’s pleiotropic actions derived from its capability to modulate multiple signaling molecules including pro-inflammatory cytokines, apoptotic proteins, including NF-κB, cyclooxygenase-2, 5-LOX, STAT3, C-reactive protein, prostaglandin E(2), prostate-specific antigen, adhesion molecules, phosphorylase kinase, altering growth factor-β, triglyceride, ET-1, creatinine, HO-1, AST, and ALT in human participants. In clinical trials, curcumin was used either alone or in conjunction with other agents. A variety of formulations of curcumin, such as nanoparticles, liposomal encapsulation, emulsions, capsules, tablets, and powder, are analyzed. Within this short article we discuss in detail how the many human diseases where the impact of curcumin was researched.