Cardiac fibrosis and curcumin: a novel perspective on this natural medicine

Fatemeh Sadoughi1, Jamal Hallajzadeh2, Liaosadat Mirsafaei3

  • 1Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Islamic Republic of Iran.

Molecular Biology Reports
|October 14, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Curcumin, a natural compound, shows promise in combating cardiac fibrosis, a key factor in heart failure. This review explores curcumin

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Research
  • Pharmacology
  • Natural Product Medicine

Background:

  • Cardiovascular diseases are the leading global cause of death.
  • Cardiac fibrosis, characterized by excessive extracellular matrix deposition in the heart, contributes to heart failure, arrhythmias, and dysfunction.
  • Current therapeutic strategies for cardiac fibrosis remain insufficient.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of curcumin in modulating signaling pathways implicated in cardiac fibrosis.
  • To explore the potential of curcumin as a therapeutic agent for cardiovascular diseases.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of experimental studies on curcumin and cardiac fibrosis.
  • Analysis of curcumin's effects on cellular and molecular mechanisms of fibrosis.

Main Results:

  • Cardiac fibrosis is driven by oxidative stress, inflammation, and mechanical stress.
  • Curcumin exhibits antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties.
  • Experimental evidence suggests curcumin impacts pathogenic factors involved in cardiac fibrosis.

Conclusions:

  • Curcumin's multifaceted actions present potential therapeutic avenues for cardiovascular conditions.
  • Further research into curcumin may lead to novel treatments for cardiac fibrosis and heart failure.
Abstract

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