Promising anti-tumor properties of bisdemethoxycurcumin: A naturally occurring curcumin analogue

Curcuminoids are turmeric-extracted phytochemicals with documented chemopreventive and anti-tumor activities against several types of malignancies. Curcuminoids can modulate several molecular pathways and cellular targets involved in different stages of tumor initiation, growth, and metastasis. Bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC) is a minor constituent (approximately 3%) of curcuminoids that has been shown to be more stable than the other two main curcuminoids, that is, curcumin and demthoxycurcumin. Recent studies have revealed that BDMC has anti-tumor effects exerted through a multimechanistic mode of action involving inhibition of cell proliferation, invasion and migration, metastasis and tumour growth, and induction of apoptotic death in cancer cells. The present review discusses the findings on the anti-tumor effects of BDMC, underlying mechanisms, and the relevance of finding for translational studies in human.