Toxins 2010, 2(1), 128-162; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins2010128
Curcumin―The Paradigm of a Multi-Target Natural Compound with Applications in Cancer Prevention and Treatment
Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire du Cancer, Hôpital Kirchberg, L-2540 Luxembourg, Luxembourg
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Received: 28 December 2009 / Revised: 11 January 2010 / Accepted: 12 January 2010 / Published: 21 January 2010
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products for Multi-Targeted Cancer Treatment: Where Are We Now?)
Abstract
As cancer is a multifactor disease, it may require treatment with compounds able to target multiple intracellular components. We summarize here how curcumin is able to modulate many components of intracellular signaling pathways implicated in inflammation, cell proliferation and invasion and to induce genetic modulations eventually leading to tumor cell death. Clinical applications of this natural compound were initially limited by its low solubility and bioavailability in both plasma and tissues but combination with adjuvant and delivery vehicles was reported to largely improve bio-availability of curcumin. Moreover, curcumin was reported to act in synergism with several natural compounds or synthetic agents commonly used in chemotherapy. Based on this, curcumin could thus be considered as a good candidate for cancer prevention and treatment when used alone or in combination with other conventional treatments. View Full-TextKeywords:
curcumin; cancer; inflammation; cell proliferation; genomic
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Teiten, M.-H.; Eifes, S.; Dicato, M.; Diederich, M. Curcumin―The Paradigm of a Multi-Target Natural Compound with Applications in Cancer Prevention and Treatment. Toxins 2010, 2, 128-162.