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Updated: Jan 30, 2026

Labeling and Imaging of Amyloid Plaques in Brain Tissue Using the Natural Polyphenol Curcumin
Published on: November 1, 2019
Potential therapeutic effect of curcumin, a natural mTOR inhibitor, in tuberous sclerosis complex
Chu-Jen Kuo1, Chi-Chen Huang2, Szu-Yi Chou2
1Health Management Center, Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Ph.D. Program for Neural Regenerative Medicine, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University and National Health Research Institutes, Taipei, Taiwan.
Background:
Curcumin is a polyphenol natural product of the plant Curcuma longa. Recent studies suggest that curcumin inhibit mTOR activity in vitro, which prompts us to investigate curcumin function as a new class of mTOR inhibitor suitable for tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) treatment.
Purpose:
We aim to investigate the efficacy of curcumin in the treatment of TSC related manifestations in animal model.
Study Design:
Solid lipid curcumin particle (SLCP), a novel curcumin formulation, was used to treat TSC related manifestations in Tsc2 knockout mice.
Methods:
The novel object recognition test was used to analyze the recognition memory function. The long-term potentiation was studied using electrophysiological analysis. Western blotting was used to assess the protein expression and activation status.
Results:
Recognition memory deficit began as early as 4 weeks of age in both male and female Tsc2+/- mice. Oral administration with SLCP activates AMPK activity and inhibits mTOR activity in the brain tissue of Tsc2+/- mice, and can rescue the electrophysiological abnormality and object recognition memory loss in the mice.
Conclusions:
Our results suggest that SLCP could be an effective treatment for TSC patients.
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