Effects of curcumin, its analogues, and metabolites on various cancers: focusing on potential mechanisms

ABSTRACT

Cancer is a significant public health issue, as well as constituting one of the main causes of death with a drastic increase. Curcumin, an active ingredient of turmeric with yellow pigment properties, is a phytochemical that has been utilized in herbal medicine to treat a variety of diseases. Due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-angiogenic effects, it has been used in a wide range of therapeutic areas. Research findings on cancer of curcumin from cell models and human clinical trials have been reviewed. Potential mechanisms of curcumin, curcumin analogs, curcumin metabolites, on various cancers, are revised through their chemical, physical properties, bioavailability, physiological activities in this direction. Even at high doses, curcumin is known as well-tolerated and non-toxic. Laboratory studies have hitherto disclosed positive results, vis-à-vis the anti-cancer and chemo preventive properties viz. antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, anti-metastatic, anti-invasion activities, apoptosis, autophagy inducer curcumin holds. Curcumin has been corroborated to prevent carcinogenesis by modulating the cell cycle by binding molecular targets such as transcription factors, growth factors, inflammatory cytokines, specific genes, certain enzymes like kinases. Thence, arguably curcumin can make a difference in cancer treatment in the future, considering its advantages anent possible mechanisms, toxicity, and cost.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Curcumin
• anti-cancer
• curcumin analogues
• curcumin metabolites
• chemopreventive

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Author contributions

NS: Visualization, Investigation, Methodology, Supervision, Writing-review & editing.

SK: Methodology, Investigation, Conceptualization, Writing - original draft.

KE: Investigation, Conceptualization, Writing - original draft.

NTS: Investigation, Conceptualization, Writing - original draft.

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.