Description

• General description: Curcumin is a bioactive component of turmeric, Curcuma longa. It has a broad spectrum of activities including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and being anti-cancerous in nature. It has been shown to be a very powerful antioxidant, and has been found to enhance the effects of common anti-cancer drugs. It can also modulate several molecular targets such as cytokines and chemokines, a multitude of enzymes, receptors, transcription factors, cell cycle proteins and cell surface adhesion molecules.[1]
• Application: It has been used as reference standard in 1H NMR and LC–MS/MS analysis for the quantification of curcumin in turmeric.[2]
• 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. 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.