Curcumin - The Nutraceutical With Pleiotropic Effects? Which Cardiometabolic Subjects Might Benefit the Most?

Curcumin enhances ATG3-dependent autophagy and inhibits metastasis in cervical carcinoma

Cervical carcinoma poses a significant health threat, with traditional treatments proving inadequate in advanced stages. Curcumin, a bioactive compound derived from turmeric, exhibits notable anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antineoplastic properties, potentially modulating autophagy, and metastasis in cancer cells. This study examines curcumin's impact on autophagy and metastasis in cervical carcinoma, focusing on its interaction with autophagy-related gene 3 (ATG3). SiHa and HeLa cervical carcinoma cell lines were treated with curcumin, ATG3 knockdown (shATG3), and their combination. Cell migration was evaluated via wound healing assays, while cell proliferation was evaluated with CCK-8 assays. LC3 expression was assessed using immunofluorescence and western blotting. Molecular docking simulations identified curcumin's binding interactions with key proteins. Curcumin and shATG3 significantly inhibited both cell migration and proliferation, with a synergistic effect observed when combined. LC3 expression was enhanced, indicating increased autophagy. Docking studies revealed curcumin's potential binding to MMP2, MMP9, TGF-β, ATG3, LC3, and p62, suggesting modulation of these pathways. The combination of curcumin and ATG3 knockdown significantly inhibited cervical carcinoma cell migration and proliferation, while also enhancing autophagy, supporting the potential of curcumin as a therapeutic agent for cervical carcinoma. Further clinical research is needed to validate these findings.

EF24, a Curcumin Analog, Reverses Interleukin-18-Induced miR-30a or miR-342-Dependent TRAF3IP2 Expression, RECK Suppression, and the Proinflammatory Phenotype of Human Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells

Curcumin, a polyphenolic compound derived from the widely used spice Curcuma longa, has shown anti-atherosclerotic effects in animal models and cultured vascular cells. Inflammation is a major contributor to atherosclerosis development and progression. We previously reported that the induction of the proinflammatory molecule TRAF3IP2 (TRAF3 Interacting Protein 2) or inhibition of the matrix metallopeptidase (MMP) regulator RECK (REversion Inducing Cysteine Rich Protein with Kazal Motifs) contributes to pro-oxidant, proinflammatory, pro-mitogenic and pro-migratory effects in response to external stimuli in vascular smooth muscle cells. Here we hypothesized that EF24, a curcumin analog with a better bioavailability and bioactivity profile, reverses interleukin (IL)-18-induced TRAF3IP2 induction, RECK suppression and the proinflammatory phenotype of primary human aortic smooth muscle cells (ASMC). The exposure of ASMC to functionally active recombinant human IL-18 (10 ng/mL) upregulated TRAF3IP2 mRNA and protein expression, but markedly suppressed RECK in a time-dependent manner. Further investigations revealed that IL-18 inhibited both miR-30a and miR-342 in a p38 MAPK- and JNK-dependent manner, and while miR-30a mimic blunted IL-18-induced TRAF3IP2 expression, miR-342 mimic restored RECK expression. Further, IL-18 induced ASMC migration, proliferation and proinflammatory phenotype switching, and these effects were attenuated by TRAF3IP2 silencing, and the forced expression of RECK or EF24. Together, these results suggest that the curcumin analog EF24, either alone or as an adjunctive therapy, has the potential to delay the development and progression of atherosclerosis and other vascular inflammatory and proliferative diseases by differentially regulating TRAF3IP2 and RECK expression in ASMC.

The potential of using curcumin in dairy and milk-based products-A review

This review examines the potential of curcumin as a technological and functional food additive in dairy and milk-based products. The advantages of incorporating curcumin in these products include its antimicrobial properties, support for the activity of lactic acid bacteria, improvement in sensory characteristics, and shelf-life extension. Curcumin notably enhances antioxidant activity and acts as a natural preservative in cheese, cheese-like products, and butter. In ice cream and dairy desserts, curcumin contributes to attractive color formation and offers functional benefits such as antioxidant activity, photostability, and increased nutritional value. However, the use of turmeric extract, a common source of curcumin, presents challenges including low bioavailability, color instability, and the formation of insoluble precipitates. The application of specialized curcumin formulations with enhanced water dispersion, purity, and bioavailability can mitigate these issues, improve the product's technological properties, and ensure compliance with local regulations. This review highlights the importance of continued research and development to optimize the use of curcumin in dairy and milk-based products, offering valuable insights for scientists and food industry professionals.

Enhancing the Bioavailability and Bioactivity of Curcumin for Disease Prevention and Treatment

Curcumin, a natural polyphenolic component from Curcuma longa roots, is the main bioactive component of turmeric spice and has gained increasing interest due to its proposed anti-cancer, anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and lipid-lowering effects, in addition to its thermogenic capacity. While intake from dietary sources such as curry may be sufficient to affect the intestinal microbiome and thus may act indirectly, intact curcumin in the body may be too low (<1 microM) and not sufficient to affect signaling and gene expression, as observed in vitro with cultured cells (10-20 microM). Several strategies can be envisioned to increase curcumin levels in the body, such as decreasing its metabolism or increasing absorption through the formation of nanoparticles. However, since high curcumin levels could also lead to undesired regulatory effects on cellular signaling and gene expression, such studies may need to be carefully monitored. Here, we review the bioavailability of curcumin and to what extent increasing curcumin levels using nanoformulations may increase the bioavailability and bioactivity of curcumin and its metabolites. This enhancement could potentially amplify the disease-preventing effects of curcumin, often by leveraging its robust antioxidant properties.

Regulatory effects of curcumin on nitric oxide signaling in the cardiovascular system

The continuously rising prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) globally substantially impacts the economic growth of developing countries. Indeed, one of the leading causes of death worldwide is unfavorable cardiovascular events. Reduced nitric oxide (NO) generation is the pathogenic foundation of endothelial dysfunction, which is regarded as the first stage in the development of a number of CVDs. Nitric oxide exerts an array of biological effects, including vasodilation, the suppression of vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and the functional control of cardiac cells. Numerous treatment strategies aim to increase NO synthesis or upregulate downstream NO signaling pathways. The major component of Curcuma longa, curcumin, has long been utilized in traditional medicine to treat various illnesses, especially CVDs. Curcumin improves CV function as well as having important pleiotropic effects, such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, through its ability to increase the bioavailability of NO and to positively impact NO-related signaling pathways. In this review, we discuss the scientific literature relating to curcumin's positive effects on NO signaling and vascular endothelial function.

Potential Therapeutic Strategies in the Treatment of Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver Disease

Metabolic-associated Fatty Liver Disease is one of the outstanding challenges in gastroenterology. The increasing incidence of the disease is undoubtedly connected with the ongoing obesity pandemic. The lack of specific symptoms in the early phases and the grave complications of the disease require an active approach to prompt diagnosis and treatment. Therapeutic lifestyle changes should be introduced in a great majority of patients; but, in many cases, the adherence is not satisfactory. There is a great need for an effective pharmacological therapy for Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver Disease, especially before the onset of steatohepatitis. Currently, there are no specific recommendations on the selection of drugs to treat liver steatosis and prevent patients from progression toward more advanced stages (steatohepatitis, cirrhosis, and cancer). Therefore, in this Review, we provide data on the clinical efficacy of therapeutic interventions that might improve the course of Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver Disease. These include the drugs used in the treatment of obesity and hyperlipidemias, as well as affecting the gut microbiota and endocrine system, and other experimental approaches, including functional foods. Finally, we provide advice on the selection of drugs for patients with concomitant Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver Disease.

Current Understanding of Polyphenols to Enhance Bioavailability for Better Therapies

In recent years, plant polyphenols have become a popular focus for the development of novel functional foods. Polyphenols, a class of bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, and lignans, are commonly found in plant-based diets with a variety of biological actions, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects. Unfortunately, polyphenols are not widely used in nutraceuticals since many of the chemicals in polyphenols possess poor oral bioavailability. Thankfully, polyphenols can be encapsulated and transported using bio-based nanocarriers, thereby increasing their bioavailability. Polyphenols' limited water solubility and low bioavailability are limiting factors for their practical usage, but this issue can be resolved if suitable delivery vehicles are developed for encapsulating and delivering polyphenolic compounds. This paper provides an overview of the study of nanocarriers for the enhancement of polyphenol oral bioavailability, as well as a summary of the health advantages of polyphenols in the prevention and treatment of several diseases.

Nutrition, Nutraceuticals and Bioactive Compounds in the Prevention and Fight against Inflammation

Chronic low-grade systemic inflammation is a key factor involved in the pathogenesis of many diseases and their complications (Figure 1) [...].

The influence of curcumin additives on the viability of probiotic bacteria, antibacterial activity against pathogenic microorganisms, and quality indicators of low-fat yogurt

Curcumin is a nutraceutical with unique anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and antimicrobial properties. In this study, we aimed to examine the advantages of the use of water dispersible and highly bioavailable form of standardized turmeric extract (Curcuma longa L.)-NOMICU® L-100 (N) in the formulation of probiotic yogurt in comparison with the standard turmeric extract (TE). The antimicrobial activity of both supplements was studied and compared in the context of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, yeasts, and fungi. The N maintains the level of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-2 in yogurt at the recommended level (7-9 log CFU/g) throughout the storage period. NOMICU® L-100 also has a higher inhibitory capacity for the growth of yeast and fungi. The evaluation of quality indicators of yogurt with N and TE at the level of 0.2% proves that yogurt with N has original taste properties. A lower degree of syneresis was noted for yogurt with TE (0.2%), but its sensory properties are unacceptable to the consumer due to the appearance of a bitter taste. In conclusion, based on the obtained results, it has been proven that the use of NOMICU® L-100 (0.2%) in the composition of yogurt provides a product of functional direction with stable quality and safety indicators, which can be stored for at least 28 days.

Antioxidant polysaccharide/gelatin blend films loaded with curcumin - A comparative study

Curcumin (CUR; 0, 0.005, 0.01, 0.02 %) was loaded into binary 75/25 blend films based on polysaccharides (carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), gum Arabic (GAR), octenyl succinic anhydride modified starch (OSA), water-soluble soy polysaccharides (WSSP)) and gelatin (GEL). The GAR-based system was the least rough and, consequently, the most transparent of the films. An opposite result was found for the WSSP-based film. Despite the phase separation, the CMC75/GEL25 film exhibited excellent mechanical strength and stiffness. CUR improved the UV/VIS light-barrier characteristics of the films, but did not affect most of other physiochemical properties. X-ray diffractograms revealed that CUR provoked the rearrangement of the triple helical structure of GEL. As highly erodible, the CMC75/GEL25 carrier ensured the fastest and the most complete release of CUR. The OSA75/GEL25 system exhibited an opposite behavior. The kinetic profiles of the antiradical activity of the films did not reflect CUR release. A comparison of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH*) scavenging on the plateau revealed that the CUR-supplemented films had quite comparable antiradical potential. The CMC75/GEL25 system exhibited the highest colorimetric stability, likely as a result of complete encapsulation of CUR in the GEL-rich microspheres. Weak symptoms of physical aging (enthalpy relaxation) were found in the films.

Curcumin Has Beneficial Effects on Lysosomal Alpha-Galactosidase: Potential Implications for the Cure of Fabry Disease

Fabry disease is a lysosomal storage disease caused by mutations in the GLA gene that encodes alpha-galactosidase (AGAL). The disease causes abnormal globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) storage in the lysosomes. Variants responsible for the genotypic spectrum of Fabry disease include mutations that abolish enzymatic activity and those that cause protein instability. The latter can be successfully treated with small molecules that either bind and stabilize AGAL or indirectly improve its cellular activity. This paper describes the first attempt to reposition curcumin, a nutraceutical, to treat Fabry disease. We tested the efficacy of curcumin in a cell model and found an improvement in AGAL activity for 80% of the tested mutant genotypes (four out of five tested). The fold-increase was dependent on the mutant and ranged from 1.4 to 2.2. We produced evidence that supports a co-chaperone role for curcumin when administered with AGAL pharmacological chaperones (1-deoxygalactonojirimycin and galactose). The combined treatment with curcumin and either pharmacological chaperone was beneficial for four out of five tested mutants and showed fold-increases ranging from 1.1 to 2.3 for DGJ and from 1.1 to 2.8 for galactose. Finally, we tested a long-term treatment on one mutant (L300F) and detected an improvement in Gb3 clearance and lysosomal markers (LAMP-1 and GAA). Altogether, our findings confirmed the necessity of personalized therapies for Fabry patients and paved the way to further studies and trials of treatments for Fabry disease.

Exploration of Molecular Targets and Mechanisms of Curcumin in the Treatment of COVID-19 with Depression by an Integrative Pharmacology Strategy

BACKGROUND

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) not only causes a range of respiratory symptoms but also has a great impact on individual mental health. With the global pandemic of SARS-CoV-2, the incidence of COVID-19 comorbid with depression has increased significantly. Curcumin, a natural polyphenol compound, has been shown to have antidepressant and anti-coronavirus activities.

METHODS

This study aimed to explore the molecular targets and underlying biological mechanisms of curcumin in the treatment of COVID-19 with depression through an integrative pharmacology strategy, including target prediction, network analysis, PPI analysis, GO and KEGG enrichment analyses, and molecular docking.

RESULTS

After a comprehensive search and thorough analysis, 8 core targets (ALB, AKT1, CASP3, STAT3, EGFR, PTGS2, FOS, and SERPINE1) were identified. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis results revealed that the pathways related to viral infection, immune regulation, neuronal reorganization, apoptosis, and secretion of inflammatory cytokines were involved in the pathological process. Furthermore, molecular docking showed that curcumin could spontaneously bind to the SARS-CoV-2-related receptor proteins and the core targets with a strong binding force.

CONCLUSION

The potential pharmacological mechanisms of curcumin in COVID-19 comorbid depression were evaluated. Curcumin can be used as a therapeutic agent for COVID-19 comorbid depression. One of the potential mechanisms may be to reduce the inflammatory response and suppress the cytokine storm by regulating the JAK-STAT signaling pathway and MAPK signaling pathway. These findings may help to overcome the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychological health.

Selected Plant-Derived Polyphenols as Potential Therapeutic Agents for Peripheral Artery Disease: Molecular Mechanisms, Efficacy and Safety

Vascular diseases, such as peripheral artery disease (PAD), are associated with diabetes mellitus and a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and even death. Surgical revascularization and pharmacological treatments (mainly antiplatelet, lipid-lowering drugs, and antidiabetic agents) have some effectiveness, but the response and efficacy of therapy are overly dependent on the patient’s conditions. Thus, the demand for new cures exists. In this regard, new studies on natural polyphenols that act on key points involved in the pathogenesis of vascular diseases and, thus, on PAD are of great urgency. The purpose of this review is to take into account the mechanisms that lead to endothelium dysfunction, such as the glycoxidation process and the production of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) that result in protein misfolding, and to suggest plant-derived polyphenols that could be useful in PAD. Thus, five polyphenols are considered, baicalein, curcumin, mangiferin, quercetin and resveratrol, reviewing the literature in PubMed. The key molecular mechanisms and preclinical and clinical studies of each selected compound are examined. Furthermore, the safety profiles of the polyphenols are outlined, together with the unwanted effects reported in humans, also by searching the WHO database (VigiBase).

Curcumin affects function of Hsp90 and drug efflux pump of Candida albicans

Candida albicans is a pathogenic yeast that causes candidiasis in immunocompromised patients. The overuse of antifungal drugs has led to the development of resistance to such drugs by this fungus, which is a major challenge in antifungal chemotherapy. One approach to this problem involves the utilization of new natural products as an alternative source of antifungals. Curcumin, one such natural product, has been widely studied as a drug candidate and is reported to exhibit antifungal activity against C. albicans. Although studies of the mechanism of curcumin against human cancer cells have shown that it inhibits heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), little is known about its function against C. albicans. In this paper, using a doxycycline-mediated HSP90 strain and an HSP90-overexpressing strain of C. albicans, we demonstrated that the curcumin triggered a decrease in Hsp90 by affecting it at the post-transcriptional level. This also led to the downregulation of HOG1 and CDR1, resulting in a reduction of the stress response and efflux pump activity of C. albicans. However, the inhibition of HSP90 by curcumin was not due to the inhibition of transcription factors HSF1 or AHR1. We also found that curcumin can not only decrease the transcriptional expression of CDR1, but also inhibit the efflux pump activity of Cdr1. Hence, we conclude that disruption of HSP90 by curcumin could impair cell growth, stress responses and efflux pump activity of C. albicans.