Abstract
This review discusses the impact of curcumin—an aromatic phytoextract from the turmeric (Curcuma longa) rhizome—as an effective therapeutic agent. Despite all of the beneficial health properties ensured by curcumin application, its pharmacological efficacy is compromised in vivo due to poor aqueous solubility, high metabolism, and rapid excretion that may result in poor systemic bioavailability. To overcome these problems, novel nanosystems have been proposed to enhance its bioavailability and bioactivity by reducing the particle size, the modification of surfaces, and the encapsulation efficiency of curcumin with different nanocarriers. The solutions based on nanotechnology can improve the perspective for medical patients with serious illnesses. In this review, we discuss commonly used curcumin-loaded bio-based nanoparticles that should be implemented for overcoming the innate constraints of this natural ingredient. Furthermore, the associated challenges regarding the potential applications in combination therapies are discussed as well.
Highlights
Curcumin, a curcuminoid [1], is a bioactive component representing 1.5–3 wt.% [2] of the rhizome of turmeric (Curcuma longa) [3], known as diferuloylmethane
An alternative way of curcumin administration has been investigated in order to make it possible to use it as a therapeutic drug
Several types of nanoparticles loaded with curcumin were developed and studied to find the most suitable nanosystem for treating and preventing certain types of cancer and other diseases
Summary
A curcuminoid [1], is a bioactive component representing 1.5–3 wt.% [2] of the rhizome of turmeric (Curcuma longa) [3], known as diferuloylmethane. This yellow pigmented powder can be obtained by grinding the rhizome of turmeric [4], owing the color to the curcumin present [1,5] It has been used over the centuries for cooking, especially in Asia, as well as for treatment due to its curing properties in diseases, such as dysentery, chest congestion, and pain. If administered by intraperitoneal or other systemic routes, curcumin is transformed into hexahydrocurcumin and octahidrocurcumin by reduction The latter are converted into monoglucuronic conjugates (the main metabolites), or curcumin glucuronide, dihydrocurcumin glucuronide, and tetrahydrocurcumin glucuronide (these being less active) [58]. Curcumin reduces the inflammatory condition using different pathways It interacts with immune mediators and shows antioxidant activity [43,44]. In the last 20 years, a vast number of drug delivery systems, such as micelles, liposomal vesicles, nanoemulsions, phospholipid complexes, and polymeric implants, has been developed [54], enabling their use for therapeutic prevention or risk reduction in the precancer stage or even across the blood–brain barrier, allowing for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases [1]
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