Recent progress on curcumin-based therapeutics: a patent review (2012-2016). Part I: Curcumin

ABSTRACT

Introduction: curcumin is the main bioactive component contained in Curcuma Longa, largely employed in traditional medicine. Recently, beneficial properties, useful for prevention and treatment of several disorders, have been discovered for this compound. Peculiar structural feature is an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl system essential for establishing contacts with critical cysteine residues of several targets. This distinctive mechanism of action imparts to the molecule the ability to affect a large number of targets, accounting for its pleiotropic behaviour and definition of “privileged structure”.

Areas covered: The objective of the review is an examination of the recent developments in the field of the anti-cancer applications of curcumin, together with formulation issues, considering the patent literature in the years 2012-2016.

Expert opinion: The wide therapeutic efficacy of curcumin is related to synergistic interactions with several biological targets, along with the modulation of several signaling pathways. This peculiar behaviour could be useful in the treatment of multifactorial diseases such as cancer. Combination of curcumin with a first line antineoplastic drug proved to be a valuable strategy to obtain an amplified response with minimized side effects. Innovative curcumin formulations based on the nanotechnology approach allowed improving both bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy.

KEYWORDS:

• Cancer
• curcumin
• delivery strategies
• multitarget compounds
• nanosystems
• natural products
• privileged structures

Article highlights box

• Curcumin, the main component of the Asian plant Curcuma longa L., represents one of the most thoroughly investigated naturally occurring products.

• Curcumin is claimed for the prevention and treatment of several pathological conditions; among them, cancer and CNS disorders are the most represented.

• Curcumin ability to modulate a network of disease relevant targets accounts for its definition as “multitarged or “polypharmacological” agent.

• The anticancer efficacy of curcumin results from its capability to disrupt multiple processes and pathways that sustain tumor proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis.

• Curcumin is often proposed in combination with approved anticancer drugs in order to develop therapies with improved efficacy along with diminished side effects (due to a reduction of the therapeutic dosage of the primary drug).

• Curcumin formulations based on the nanotechnology approach allowed improving both bioavailability and efficacy.

This box summarizes key points contained in the article.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Additional information

Funding

No funding to declare.