Effects and Mechanisms of Curcumin for the Prevention and Management of Cancers: An Updated Review

• Published in: Antioxidants Vol. 11; no. 8; p. 1481
• Main Authors: Yang, Zhi-Jun, Huang, Si-Yu, Zhou, Dan-Dan, Xiong, Ruo-Gu, Zhao, Cai-Ning, Fang, Ai-Ping, Zhang, Yun-Jian, Li, Hua-Bin, Zhu, Hui-Lian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 28.07.2022; MDPI
• Subjects: adjuvants; anticancer; Apoptosis; Autophagy; Bioavailability; Brain cancer; Breast cancer; Cancer; Cancer therapies; Care and treatment; Cell adhesion & migration; Cell cycle; Cell division; Cell growth; Cell migration; Cell proliferation; Cervical cancer; Clinical trials; Curcuma longa; Curcumin; Cytokines; death; Diarrhea; Ferroptosis; Food industry; Gene expression; Growth factors; Head & neck cancer; Health aspects; Homeostasis; inflammation; ingredients; Intestinal microflora; intestinal microorganisms; Kinases; Liver; Lymphoma; mechanism; Metastasis; Microbiota; nanotechnology; Nausea; Ovarian cancer; Prostate cancer; Proteins; Reactive oxygen species; Review; safety; therapeutics; Thyroid gland; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; Tumors; Turmeric; water solubility; United States
• ISSN: 2076-3921; 2076-3921
• DOI: 10.3390/antiox11081481

Cancer is the leading cause of death in the world. Curcumin is the main ingredient in turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), and is widely used in the food industry. It shows anticancer properties on different types of cancers, and the underlying mechanisms of action include inhibiting cell proliferation, suppressing invasion and migration, promoting cell apoptosis, inducing autophagy, decreasing cancer stemness, increasing reactive oxygen species production, reducing inflammation, triggering ferroptosis, regulating gut microbiota, and adjuvant therapy. In addition, the anticancer action of curcumin is demonstrated in clinical trials. Moreover, the poor water solubility and low bioavailability of curcumin can be improved by a variety of nanotechnologies, which will promote its clinical effects. Furthermore, although curcumin shows some adverse effects, such as diarrhea and nausea, it is generally safe and tolerable. This paper is an updated review of the prevention and management of cancers by curcumin with a special attention to its mechanisms of action.