Description

Clinical Applications

Curcumin, the principal curcuminoid in turmeric, has been the subject of vast research in recent years. The pleiotropic nature of curcumin’s biological effects make it an interesting compound to researchers who study common chronic health concerns, such as those associated with joints, the cardiovascular system, glucose metabolism, brain function, mood, and cell-cycle regulation.

The mechanisms underlying curcumin’s effects are diverse and have not been fully elucidated, but it is known that curcumin has powerful antioxidant activity and that it has multiple molecular targets, including transcription factors, cell cycle proteins, cytokines, chemokines, enzymes (e.g., COX-2), receptors, and adhesion molecules. These effects make curcumin applicable to a wide array of clinical presentations.