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Ahmad I, Ahmad S, Ahmad A, Zughaibi TA, Alhosin M, Tabrez S. Curcumin, its derivatives, and their nanoformulations: Revolutionizing cancer treatment. Cell Biochem Funct 2024; 42:e3911. [PMID: 38269517 DOI: 10.1002/cbf.3911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Curcumin is a natural compound derived from turmeric and can target malignant tumor molecules involved in cancer propagation. It has potent antioxidant activity, but its effectiveness is limited due to poor absorption and rapid elimination from the body. Various curcumin derivatives have also shown anticancer potential in in-vitro and in-vivo models. Curcumin can target multiple signaling pathways involved in cancer development/progression or induce cancer cell death through apoptosis. In addition, curcumin and its derivatives could also enhance the effectiveness of conventional chemotherapy, radiation therapy and reduce their associated side effects. Lately, nanoparticle-based delivery systems are being developed/explored to overcome the challenges associated with curcumin's delivery, increasing its overall efficacy. The use of an imaging system to track these formulations could also give beneficial information about the bioavailability and distribution of the nano-curcumin complex. In conclusion, curcumin holds significant promise in the fight against cancer, especially in its nanoform, and could provide precise delivery to cancer cells without affecting normal healthy cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iftikhar Ahmad
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sameer Ahmad
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Biotechnology & Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ausaf Ahmad
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow, India
| | - Torki A Zughaibi
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mahmoud Alhosin
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shams Tabrez
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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Pinelli R, Ferrucci M, Biagioni F, Berti C, Bumah VV, Busceti CL, Puglisi-Allegra S, Lazzeri G, Frati A, Fornai F. Autophagy Activation Promoted by Pulses of Light and Phytochemicals Counteracting Oxidative Stress during Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:1183. [PMID: 37371913 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12061183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The seminal role of autophagy during age-related macular degeneration (AMD) lies in the clearance of a number of reactive oxidative species that generate dysfunctional mitochondria. In fact, reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the retina generate misfolded proteins, alter lipids and sugars composition, disrupt DNA integrity, damage cell organelles and produce retinal inclusions while causing AMD. This explains why autophagy in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), mostly at the macular level, is essential in AMD and even in baseline conditions to provide a powerful and fast replacement of oxidized molecules and ROS-damaged mitochondria. When autophagy is impaired within RPE, the deleterious effects of ROS, which are produced in excess also during baseline conditions, are no longer counteracted, and retinal degeneration may occur. Within RPE, autophagy can be induced by various stimuli, such as light and naturally occurring phytochemicals. Light and phytochemicals, in turn, may synergize to enhance autophagy. This may explain the beneficial effects of light pulses combined with phytochemicals both in improving retinal structure and visual acuity. The ability of light to activate some phytochemicals may further extend such a synergism during retinal degeneration. In this way, photosensitive natural compounds may produce light-dependent beneficial antioxidant effects in AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Pinelli
- SERI, Switzerland Eye Research Institute, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Michela Ferrucci
- Human Anatomy, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesca Biagioni
- IRCCS, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Neuromed, 86077 Pozzili, Italy
| | - Caterina Berti
- SERI, Switzerland Eye Research Institute, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Violet Vakunseth Bumah
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Physics, University of Tennessee, Martin, TN 38237, USA
| | - Carla Letizia Busceti
- IRCCS, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Neuromed, 86077 Pozzili, Italy
| | | | - Gloria Lazzeri
- Human Anatomy, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessandro Frati
- IRCCS, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Neuromed, 86077 Pozzili, Italy
| | - Francesco Fornai
- Human Anatomy, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
- IRCCS, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Neuromed, 86077 Pozzili, Italy
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