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Published on: July 4, 2017
Enhanced Systemic Bioavailability of Curcumin Through Transmucosal Administration of a Novel Microgranular
Brian Latimer1, Oleksandr Ekshyyan2, Neil Nathan1
1Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, U.S.A. Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Neuroscience, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, U.S.A.
Background/Aim:
Curcumin is a promising nutraceutical for chemoprevention of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Capsular formulations of curcumin demonstrate low systemic bioavailability. We aimed to determine if curcumin levels were higher in healthy volunteers and cancer patients with microgranular curcumin that allows for transmucosal absorption and identify a consistent biomarker.
Patients And Methods:
Eight healthy volunteers and 15 HNSCC patients completed the trials. Serum levels of curcumin were measured by HPLC. Biological activity of curcumin was assessed with Multiplex Immunoassay and immunohistochemistry.
Results:
We achieved higher serum levels of curcumin compared to trials using capsular formulation. In cancer patients a significant decrease in expression of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) in post-biopsy samples and decreased serum levels of FGF-2, granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin-17 (IL-17) (p<0.05) was observed.
Conclusion:
Transmucosal administration of microgranular curcumin leads to enhanced curcumin bioavailability that is associated with significant biological effects.
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Routes of Drug Administration: Enteral
Enteral administration involves drug administration via the mouth in two ways: orally or sublingually.
Unlike sublingually drugs, drugs that are taken orally pass through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and get metabolized by the liver. Once metabolized, the drug is absorbed into the systemic circulation, reaching different body parts via the bloodstream. However, while passing through the stomach,...

