Synthetic and Medicinal Prospective of Structurally Modified Curcumins

Curcumin, a natural yellow phenolic compound, is present in various types of herbs, particularly in Turmeric, Curcuma longa Linn. (Zingiberaceae family) rhizomes. Curcumin is a polyphenolic natural compound with diverse and attractive biological activities. In the last decade curcumine and its various synthetic analogues have been prepared and evaluated for various pharmacological activities that prove it as a lead molecule against several biological targets. It is a natural antioxidant and exhibited many pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anticancer, anti-Alzheimer in both preclinical and clinical studies. Moreover, Curcumin and its analogues have anti-tubercular, cardioprotective, anti-diabetic, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, nephroprotective, antirheumatic and anti-viral activities. The substitutions of 1,6-heptadiene linkage moiety via carbonyl group sustituion and addition of heterocyclic linker; isoxazole, 1H-pyrazole, cyclopentanone, piperidin-4-one, N-methylpiperidin-4-one enhance biological activities. The structure activity relationship of various curcumin analogues is studied for medicinal purposes and it reveals that monocarbonyl linkage analogues have anticancer properties. The current review gives an insight of the history, chemistry, analogues and most interesting in vitro and in vivo studies on the biological effects of Curcumin and its analogues.