Journal of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences (Mar 2024)
A Review of the Biochemical and Pathophysiological Properties of Curcumin
Abstract
Background and purpose: Medicinal plants play a crucial role in maintaining human health and contain various phytochemical compounds recognized as therapeutic active agents. The long history of human use of medicinal plants indicates that these natural sources possess antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, sedative, and antioxidant properties. The important advantages of medicinal plants include alleviating symptoms of diseases, enhancing the immune system, and even preventing certain illnesses. Additionally, the use of various medicinal plants as an alternative or complementary approach to conventional treatments can contribute to reducing side effects and toxicities associated with chemical drugs. Therefore, further research in understanding and utilizing medicinal plants has the potential to lead to the development of innovative therapeutic methods and improve overall public health. Curcumin, the main active polyphenol component derived from Curcuma longa, can be used as a supplement to treat liver disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, infertility, and cancers. The therapeutic effects of curcumin consist of anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-cancer properties through direct and indirect modulation mechanisms of molecules and signaling pathways of genes involved in disease pathogenesis. Curcumin affects the expression of inflammatory cytokines, interleukins, growth factors, enzymes, adhesion molecules, transcription factors, and apoptotic proteins. In this study, a collection of reviews and research articles were searched from Internet databases and entered into the study until 2024. This study aims to investigate the molecular mechanisms of curcumin signaling pathways and clinical evidence related to its effects on the treatment of various diseases. Materials and methods: In this study, related materials and research resources have been prepared and compiled from library studies from Scopus, Web of Science, Pubmed, and Google Scholar databases in the last 20 years. Keywords of Curcumin, metabolism, therapeutic benefits, pharmacokinetics, signaling pathway, inflammation, and growth factors were searched in different databases. Then, the sources were evaluated and the obtained results were summarized and reported. Results: A wide range of studies have reported positive results about the use of curcumin in reducing the symptoms of cancers, arthritis, allergies, atherosclerosis, neurogenic diseases, liver cirrhosis, obesity, psoriasis, and autoimmune diseases and delaying the aging process. In general, curcumin can be used as a supplement besides chemical drugs. Curcumin reduces inflammatory responses and its anti-inflammatory effect is comparable to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Conclusion: Medicinal plants are very diverse and can be used to treat various diseases. Further research in the field of herbal medicines can lead to a better understanding of their effects and applications and be effective in creating new medicines. According to the current research, it seems that curcumin with multiple abilities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-cancer, can play an effective role in the process of preventing and treating some diseases. However, more studies and clinical research are needed to more accurately evaluate the long-term effects and safety of curcumin consumption. In the future, the exploration of medicinal plants holds promising prospects for the development of novel therapeutic interventions, as ongoing scientific research continues to unveil the intricate bioactive compounds and molecular mechanisms underlying their medicinal properties, paving the way for innovative pharmaceutical applications and enhanced healthcare solutions.
