A Review of Therapeutic Effects of Curcumin

Ali      Noorafshan; Soheil      Ashkani-Esfahani

doi:10.2174/1381612811319110006

Abstract

There is a growing interest in herbal medicine. Scientific studies have demonstrated the beneficial pharmacological effects of curcumin. Curcumin is a bright yellow spice, derived from the rhizome of Curcuma longa Linn. It has been proven that curcumin is a highly pleiotropic molecule which can be a modulator of intracellular signaling pathways that control cell growth, inflammation, and apoptosis. Curcumin might be a potential candidate for the prevention and/or treatment of some diseases due to its anti-oxidant, antiinflammatory activities and an excellent safety profile. We present an updated concise review of currently available animal and clinical studies demonstrating the therapeutic effect of curcumin.

Keywords: Curcumin, therapeutic effects, review, herbal medicine, rhizome, intracellular signaling pathways, cell growth, inflammation, apoptosis, anti-oxidant