Title:Curcuminoids as Cell Signaling Pathway Modulators: A Potential
Strategy for Cancer Prevention
Volume: 31
Issue: 21
Author(s): Aneeza Noor, Saimeena Shafi, Nouroz Sehar, Insha Qadir, Bilquees, Summya Rashid, Azher Arafah, Saiema Rasool, Nawab John Dar, Mubashir Hussain Masoodi and Muneeb U. Rehman*
Affiliation:
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Keywords:
Curcuminoids, signaling pathways, chemotherapeutic agent, JAK/STAT pathway, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, miRNAs.
Abstract: Despite substantial advancements in curative modern medicine in the last few
decades, cancer risk and casualty rates have continued to mount globally. The exact reason
for cancer's onset and progression is still unknown. However, skeletal and functional
abnormalities in the genetic code are assumed to be the primary cause of cancer. Many
lines of evidence reported that some medicinal plants can be utilized to curb cancer cell
proliferation with a safe, fruitful, and cost-efficient perspective. Curcuminoid, isolated
from Curcuma longa, have gotten a lot of focus due to their anticancer potential as they
reduce tumor progression, invasion, and dissemination. Further, they modulated signal
transduction routes like MAPK, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, JAK/STAT, and Wnt/β-catenin, etc.,
and triggered apoptosis as well as actuated autophagy in malignant cells without altering
the normal cells, thus preventing cancer progression. Besides, Curcuminoid also regulate
the function and expression of anti-tumor and carcinogenic miRNAs. Clinical studies also
reported the therapeutic effect of Curcuminoid against various cancer through decreasing
specific biomarkers like TNF-α, Bcl-2, COX-2, PGE2, VEGF, IκKβ, and various cytokines
like IL-12p70, IL-10, IL-2, IFN-γ levels and increasing in p53 and Bax levels.
Thus, in the present review, we abridged the modulation of several signal transduction
routes by Curcuminoids in various malignancies, and its modulatory role in the initiation
of tumor-suppressive miRNAs and suppression of the oncogenic miRNAs are explored.
Additionally, various pharmacokinetic approaches have been projected to address the
Curcuminoids bioavailability like the use of piperine as an adjuvant; nanotechnology-
based Curcuminoids preparations utilizing Curcuminoids analogues are also discussed.
