Curcumin and Its Protein Targets: Literature Review and Systems Biology Analysis

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology and Molecular Biology
• Natural Product Chemistry
• Computational Biology

Background:

• Curcumin, derived from Curcuma longa, exhibits pleiotropic pharmacological effects.
• Its mechanisms involve direct protein interaction or gene expression modulation.
• A comprehensive analysis of curcumin's protein targets in human diseases over the last five years is lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a comprehensive analysis of curcumin's protein targets associated with human diseases from 2021-2025.
• To identify frequently reported targets and their associated diseases.
• To assess the gap between in silico predictions and experimental validation of curcumin targets.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review of 96 articles published between January 1, 2021, and July 1, 2025.
• Analysis of 166 unique protein targets of curcumin.
• Categorization of evidence source: bioinformatics hypothesis, in silico prediction, or in vitro verification.
• Functional enrichment analysis of identified targets.

Main Results:

• 166 unique protein targets identified, with EGFR, STAT3, AKT1, TNF, and CASP3 being most frequent.
• Seven targets were experimentally verified, revealing a significant gap in validation.
• Targets are associated with proliferative diseases (e.g., colorectal, breast, lung cancers) and molecular aging.
• Functional enrichment highlights roles in cell proliferation, communication, and migration.
• 14 targets are common to curcumin and its derivatives, crucial for drug design.

Conclusions:

• Curcumin targets are interconnected and involved in key cellular processes.
• Experimental validation of computationally predicted targets is essential.
• Curcumin serves as a drug prototype for targeting protein-protein interactions.
• This review provides a foundation for future research on curcumin's protein targets and therapeutic applications.