Biotransformation of curcumin and structure–activity relationship (SAR) of its analogues: A systematic review

Abstract

Curcumin has been widely acclaimed for several pharmacological properties, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, and anti-inflammation. Curcumin’s poor aqueous solubility, bioavailability, and cellular uptake hamper its ability to display maximum pharmacological effect in the human body. Synthesis of curcumin analogues to enhance its properties can be achieved through biotransformation. Greener, simpler, and higher selectivity and specificity make biotransformation an alternative approach when preparing curcumin analogues for the structure–activity relationship (SAR) study intended for drug design. This work systematically reviews the biotransformation of curcumin by utilizing fungi, gut microbiota, and enzymes. The SAR study of curcumin and its analogues for several bioactivities is also highlighted.