Relevance of the Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Curcumin in Neurodegenerative Diseases and Depression
Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059, USA
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Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Molecules 2014, 19(12), 20864-20879; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules191220864
Received: 21 October 2014
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Revised: 5 December 2014
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Accepted: 8 December 2014
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Published: 12 December 2014
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Curcumin, Inflammation, and Chronic Diseases: How are They Linked?)
This review is an attempt to summarize our current understanding of curcumin’s potential as a neuroprotectant and an antidepressant. This dual property confers a unique advantage to this herbal medication, believed to be devoid of any major side effects, to combat commonly observed co-morbid conditions of a neurodegenerative and a neuropsychiatric disorder. Moreover, in line with the theme of this series, the role of inflammation and stress in these diseases and possible anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin, as well as its interaction with signal transduction proteins as a common denominator in its varied mechanisms of action, are also discussed. Thus, following a brief introduction of curcumin’s pharmacology, we present research suggesting how its anti-inflammatory properties have therapeutic potential in treating a devastating neurological disorder (Parkinson’s disease = PD) and a debilitating neuropsychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder = MDD). It is concluded that curcumin, or better yet, an analog with better and longer bioavailability could be of important therapeutic potential in PD and/or major depression.
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Keywords:
curcumin; inflammation; depression; Parkinson’s disease; neuroprotection
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MDPI and ACS Style
Tizabi, Y.; Hurley, L.L.; Qualls, Z.; Akinfiresoye, L. Relevance of the Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Curcumin in Neurodegenerative Diseases and Depression. Molecules 2014, 19, 20864-20879. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules191220864
AMA Style
Tizabi Y, Hurley LL, Qualls Z, Akinfiresoye L. Relevance of the Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Curcumin in Neurodegenerative Diseases and Depression. Molecules. 2014; 19(12):20864-20879. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules191220864
Chicago/Turabian StyleTizabi, Yousef, Laura L. Hurley, Zakiya Qualls, and Luli Akinfiresoye. 2014. "Relevance of the Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Curcumin in Neurodegenerative Diseases and Depression" Molecules 19, no. 12: 20864-20879. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules191220864
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