Curcumin and curcuminoids in quest for medicinal status

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology and Medicinal Chemistry
• Natural Product Drug Discovery

Background:

• Curcumin, a compound from turmeric, has a long history in Ayurvedic medicine and Asian cuisine.
• It is being investigated as a drug candidate due to its potential therapeutic applications.
• Curcumin's chemical structure, with a conjugated double bond system, contributes to its high reactivity and interaction with numerous molecular targets.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the therapeutic potential of curcumin as a drug candidate.
• To analyze the molecular interactions and pharmacological properties of curcumin.
• To identify limitations in curcumin's drug-like properties, specifically in ADME.

Main Methods:

• Review of preclinical pharmacological data.
• Analysis of spectral, physicochemical, and biological experimental observations.
• Assessment of curcumin's interactions with molecular targets.

Main Results:

• Preclinical data support the traditional medicinal uses of curcumin.
• Curcumin interacts with a wide range of molecular targets.
• Suboptimal properties in absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) were identified.

Conclusions:

• Curcumin demonstrates significant therapeutic promise based on its interactions with multiple targets.
• Further research is needed to overcome the ADME limitations for effective drug development.
• Curcumin and its congeners require optimization for improved pharmacokinetic profiles.