Biochem/physiol Actions

A natural phenolic compound. Potent anti-tumor agent having anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. Curcumin has been cited as a potential chemopreventive agent, in addition to its chemotherapeutic activity.¹ Induces apoptosis in cancer cells and inhibits phorbol ester-induced protein kinase C (PKC) activity. Reported to inhibit production of inflammatory cytokines by peripheral blood monocytes and alveolar macrophages. Potent inhibitor of EGFR tyrosine kinase and IκB kinase. Inhibits inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cycloxygenase and lipoxygenase. Easily penetrates into the cytoplasm of cells, accumulating in membranous structures such as plasma membrane, endoplasmic reticulum and nuclear envelope.

1. Shehzad, A., et al., Curcumin in cancer chemoprevention: molecular targets, pharmacokinetics, bioavailability, and clinical trials Arch. Pharm. (Weinheim) 343, 489-499, (2010)

Konopacka, A., et al., Protein Kinase G Is Involved In Ammonia-induced Swelling Of Astrocytes. J. Neurooncol. 109 Suppl 1, 246-51, (2009)

Thomas, P., et al., Grape Seed Polyphenols And Curcumin Reduce Genomic Instability Events In A Transgenic Mouse Model For Alzheimer's Disease. Mol. Cell. 661, 25-34, (2009)

Jin, Q., et al., Distinct Roles Of GCN5/PCAF-mediated H3K9ac And CBP/p300-mediated H3K18/27ac In Nuclear Receptor Transactivation. EMBO J. 30, 249-62, (2011)

Ichi, S., et al., Role Of Pax3 Acetylation In The Regulation Of Hes1 And Neurog2. Molecular Biology of the Cell 22, 503-12, (2011)

Khar, A., et al., Antitumor activity of curcumin is mediated through the induction of apoptosis in AK-5 tumor cells. FEBS Lett. 445, 165-168, (1999)

Jaruga, E., et al., Apoptosis-like, reversible changes in plasma membrane asymmetry and permeability, and transient modifications in mitochondrial membrane potential induced by curcumin in rat thymocytes. FEBS Lett. 433, 287-293, (1998)

Lin, J.K., et al., Suppression of protein kinase C and nuclear oncogene expression as possible molecular mechanisms of cancer chemoprevention by apigenin and curcumin. J. Cell. Biochem., 39-48, (1997)

Abe, Y., et al., Curcumin inhibition of inflammatory cytokine production by human peripheral blood monocytes and alveolar macrophages. Pharmacol. Res. 39, 41-47, (1999)

Rao, C.V., et al., Chemoprevention of colonic aberrant crypt foci by an inducible nitric oxide synthase-selective inhibitor. Carcinogenesis 20, 641-644, (1999)

Chan, M.M., et al., In vivo inhibition of nitric oxide synthase gene expression by curcumin, a cancer preventive natural product with anti-inflammatory properties. Biochem. Pharmacol. 55, 1955-1962, (1998)

Zhang, F., et al., Curcumin inhibits cyclooxygenase-2 transcription in bile acid- and phorbol ester-treated human gastrointestinal epithelial cells. Carcinogenesis 20, 445-451, (1999)

Huang, M.T., et al., Inhibitory effects of curcumin on tumorigenesis in mice. J. Cell. Biochem. (Suppl.) 27, 26-34, (1997)

Merck 14,2673

Beil. 8,IV,3697

FT-IR 1 (2), 52:C / FT-IR 2 (2), 2365:A / FT-NMR 1 (2), 800:B / NMR-Reference 2 (2), 57:D / RegBook 1 (2), 1621:C / Sax 6, 1539 / Sigma FT-IR 1 (2), 122:B / Structure Index 1, 253:B:2