Curcumin derivatives for Type 2 Diabetes management and prevention of complications

Type 2 diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is characterized by chronically increased blood glucose levels, which is associated with impairment of the inflammatory and oxidative state and dyslipidaemia. Although it is considered a world heath concern and one of the most studied diseases, we are still pursuing an effective therapy for both the pathophysiological mechanisms and the complications. Curcumin, a natural compound found in the rhizome of Curcuma longa, is well known for its numerous biological activities, as demonstrated by several studies supporting that curcumin possesses hypoglycaemic, hypolipidemic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, among others. These effects have been explored to the attenuation of hyperglycaemia and progression of DM complications, being appointed as a potential therapeutic approach. Besides its strong intrinsic activity, the polyphenol has low bioavailability, compromising its therapeutic efficacy. In order to overcome this limitation, several chemical strategies have been applied to curcumin, such as drug delivery systems, chemical manipulation and the use of adjuvant therapies. Given the promising results obtained with curcumin derivative, in this review we discuss not only the therapeutic targets of curcumin, but also its most recently developed analogues and their efficacy in the management of T2DM pathophysiology and complications.