A Comprehensive Review on Physiological Effects of Curcumin

Area of Science:

• Herbal medicine
• Pharmacology
• Natural compounds

Background:

• Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a spice and traditional remedy from Southeast Asia.
• Curcumin is the primary active compound in turmeric.
• It belongs to the Zingiberaceae family and is widely cultivated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review in vitro and in vivo studies of curcumin.
• To summarize curcumin's effects on prevalent global diseases.
• To highlight curcumin's biological and pharmacological properties.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of in vitro and in vivo studies.
• Compilation of research on curcumin's effects.
• Analysis of curcumin's mechanisms of action.

Main Results:

• Curcumin exhibits anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-angiogenic, wound healing, anti-cancer, anti-Alzheimer, and anti-arthritis properties.
• It modulates intracellular signaling pathways crucial for cell growth.
• Curcumin has demonstrated a favorable safety profile in clinical and preclinical studies.

Conclusions:

• Curcumin is a pleiotropic molecule with diverse therapeutic potential.
• Its biological activities support its use in various diseases.
• This review consolidates key research on curcumin's efficacy.