Title:Curcumin in Cancer Prevention: Insights from Clinical Trials and Strategies to
Enhance Bioavailability
Volume: 30
Issue: 23
Author(s): Shabaz Alam, Jaewon Lee*Amirhossein Sahebkar*
Affiliation:
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
- Center for Global Health Research, Saveetha Medical College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, India
- Applied Biomedical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad,
Iran
Keywords:
Curcumin, natural product, chronic diseases, apoptosis, cell proliferation, cancer.
Abstract: Cancer remains a leading cause of death worldwide, and current cancer drugs often have high costs
and undesirable side effects. Additionally, the development of drug resistance can reduce their effectiveness
over time. Natural products have gained attention as potential sources for the treatment and prevention of various
diseases. Curcumin, an extract from turmeric (Curcuma longa), is a natural phenolic compound with diverse
pharmacological properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal,
antiprotozoal, antidiabetic, antivenom, antiulcer, anticarcinogenic, antimutagenic, anticoagulant, and antifertility
activities. Given the increasing interest in curcumin for cancer prevention, this review aims to comprehensively
examine clinical trials investigating the use of curcumin in different types of cancer. Additionally, effective
techniques and approaches to enhance the bioavailability of curcumin are discussed and summarized. This
review article provides insights into the properties of curcumin and its potential as a future anticancer drug.