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Current Drug Metabolism

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ISSN (Print): 1389-2002
ISSN (Online): 1875-5453

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Review Article

A Unifying Perspective in Blunting the Limited Oral Bioavailability of Curcumin: A Succinct Look

Author(s): Pitchai Balakumar*, Taha Alqahtani, Ali Alqahtani, R. Sulochana Lakshmiraj, Gurfateh Singh, Mani Rupeshkumar, A. Thangathirupathi and Karupiah Sundram

Volume 23, Issue 11, 2022

Published on: 31 October, 2022

Page: [897 - 904] Pages: 8

DOI: 10.2174/1389200223666220825101212

Price: $65

Abstract

Background: Curcumin is a polyphenolic compound derived from rhizomes of Curcuma longa, the golden spice. Curcumin has drawn much attention in recent years of biomedical research owing to its wide variety of biologic and pharmacologic actions. It exerts antiproliferative, antifibrogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidative effects, among various imperative pharmacologic actions. In spite of its well-documented efficacies against numerous disease conditions, the limited systemic bioavailability of curcumin is a continuing concern. Perhaps, the poor bioavailability of curcumin may have curtailed its significant development from kitchen to clinic as a potential therapeutic agent. Subsequently, there have been a considerable number of studies over decades researching the scientific basis of curcumin’s reduced bioavailability and eventually improvement of its bioavailability employing a variety of therapeutic approaches, for instance, in combination with piperine, the bio-active constituent of black pepper. Piperine has remarkable potential to modulate the functional activity of metabolic enzymes and drug transporters, and thus there has been a great interest in the therapeutic application of this widely used spice as alternative medicine and bioavailability enhancer. Growing body of evidence supports the synergistic potential of curcumin against numerous pathologic conditions when administered with piperine.

Conclusion: In light of current challenges, the major concern pertaining to poor systemic bioavailability of curcumin, its improvement, especially in combination with piperine, and the necessity of additional research in this setting are together described in this review. Besides, the recent advances in the potential therapeutic rationale and efficacy of curcumin-piperine combination, a promising duo, against various pathologic conditions are delineated.

Keywords: Turmeric, Curcumin, Piperine, Bioavailability, Mechanistic insights, Therapeutic rationale.

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