THE PHARMACOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF CURCUMIN IN DIABETES, CANCER, AND NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES: A REVIEW

Curcumin (1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,6-heptane-3,5-dione) is a hydrophobic polyphenol derived from the roots of the Curcuma longa and is also known as diferuloylmethane (C₁₂H₂₀O₆). It shows various pharmacological effects like anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-carcinogenic, chemo-preventive, anti-diabetic, anti-viral, and anti-bacterial in spite of these curcumin is still far away from the clinical uses due to their low bioavailability and in which is related by the poor absorption, quick metabolism, poor water solubility, and chemical instability as a diet-derived agent curcumin has been used traditionally in many forms for the treatment of inflammation and pain but most of the recent studies uncovered the role of curcumin as an antidiabetic, anti-carcinogenic, anti-infectious, antidepressant and antipsychotic agent. This dietary supplement has ability to block a number of cells signaling pathways at various levels underlies its diverse effect. By modulating cell cycles and interacting directly to molecular targets like glutathione peroxidase, nuclear factor kappa-B cells, cyclooxygenase-2, hepatic superoxide dismutase, reactive oxygen species tumor necrosis factors etc. curcumin can prevent the development of cancer. In this chapter, we demonstrated the therapeutic effects of curcumin in various cancers, neurodegenerative disorders, microbial infections and diabetes interconnected with its molecular pathways during preclinical trails.