Abstract
As demographics in developed nations shift towards an aging population, neurodegenerative pathologies, especially dementias such as Alzheimer’s disease, pose one of the largest challenges to the modern health care system. Since there is yet no cure for dementia, there is great pressure to discover potential therapeutics for these diseases. One popular candidate is curcumin or diferuloylmethane, a polyphenolic compound that is the main curcuminoid found in Curcuma longa (family Zingiberaceae). In recent years, curcumin has been reported to possess anti-amyloidogenic, antiinflammatory, anti-oxidative, and metal chelating properties that may result in potential neuroprotective effects. Particularly, the hydrophobicity of the curcumin molecule hints at the possibility of blood-brain barrier penetration and accumulation in the brain. However, curcumin exhibits extremely low bioavailability, mainly due to its poor aqueous solubility, poor stability in solution, and rapid intestinal first-pass and hepatic metabolism. Despite the many efforts that are currently being made to improve the bioavailability of curcumin, brain concentration of curcumin remains low. Furthermore, although many have reported that curcumin possesses a relatively low toxicity profile, curcumin applied at high doses, which is not uncommon practice in many in vivo and clinical studies, may present certain dangers that in our opinion have not been addressed sufficiently. Herein, the neuroprotective potential of curcumin, with emphasis on Alzheimer’s disease, as well as its limitations will be discussed in detail.
Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, amyloid-β, curcumin, metal chelation, mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroinflammation, Nrf2, oxidative stress.
Current Medicinal Chemistry
Title:Neuroprotective Properties of Curcumin in Alzheimer’s Disease – Merits and Limitations
Volume: 20 Issue: 32
Author(s): Dawn Chin, Patricia Huebbe, Kathrin Pallauf and Gerald Rimbach
Affiliation:
Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, amyloid-β, curcumin, metal chelation, mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroinflammation, Nrf2, oxidative stress.
Abstract: As demographics in developed nations shift towards an aging population, neurodegenerative pathologies, especially dementias such as Alzheimer’s disease, pose one of the largest challenges to the modern health care system. Since there is yet no cure for dementia, there is great pressure to discover potential therapeutics for these diseases. One popular candidate is curcumin or diferuloylmethane, a polyphenolic compound that is the main curcuminoid found in Curcuma longa (family Zingiberaceae). In recent years, curcumin has been reported to possess anti-amyloidogenic, antiinflammatory, anti-oxidative, and metal chelating properties that may result in potential neuroprotective effects. Particularly, the hydrophobicity of the curcumin molecule hints at the possibility of blood-brain barrier penetration and accumulation in the brain. However, curcumin exhibits extremely low bioavailability, mainly due to its poor aqueous solubility, poor stability in solution, and rapid intestinal first-pass and hepatic metabolism. Despite the many efforts that are currently being made to improve the bioavailability of curcumin, brain concentration of curcumin remains low. Furthermore, although many have reported that curcumin possesses a relatively low toxicity profile, curcumin applied at high doses, which is not uncommon practice in many in vivo and clinical studies, may present certain dangers that in our opinion have not been addressed sufficiently. Herein, the neuroprotective potential of curcumin, with emphasis on Alzheimer’s disease, as well as its limitations will be discussed in detail.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Chin Dawn, Huebbe Patricia, Pallauf Kathrin and Rimbach Gerald, Neuroprotective Properties of Curcumin in Alzheimer’s Disease – Merits and Limitations, Current Medicinal Chemistry 2013; 20 (32) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/09298673113209990210
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/09298673113209990210 |
Print ISSN 0929-8673 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-533X |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Advances in Medicinal Chemistry: From Cancer to Chronic Diseases.
The broad spectrum of the issue will provide a comprehensive overview of emerging trends, novel therapeutic interventions, and translational insights that impact modern medicine. The primary focus will be diseases of global concern, including cancer, chronic pain, metabolic disorders, and autoimmune conditions, providing a broad overview of the advancements in ...read more
Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Non-Infectious Inflammatory Diseases: Focus on Clinical Implications
The Special Issue covers the results of the studies on cellular and molecular mechanisms of non-infectious inflammatory diseases, in particular, autoimmune rheumatic diseases, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and other age-related disorders such as type II diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, etc. Review and research articles as well as methodology papers that summarize ...read more
Chalcogen-modified nucleic acid analogues
Chalcogen-modified nucleosides, nucleotides and oligonucleotides have been of great interest to scientific research for many years. The replacement of oxygen in the nucleobase, sugar or phosphate backbone by chalcogen atoms (sulfur, selenium, tellurium) gives these biomolecules unique properties resulting from their altered physical and chemical properties. The continuing interest in ...read more
Current advances in inherited cardiomyopathy
Describe in detail all novel advances in multimodality imaging related to inherited cardiomyopathy diagnosis and prognosis. Shed light to deeper phenotypic characterization. Acknowledge recent advances in genetics, genomics and precision medicineread more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Docking Modes of BB-3497 into the PDF Active Site – A Comparison of the Pure MM and QM/MM Based Docking Strategies
Current Computer-Aided Drug Design Neuroimaging Outcomes in Studies of Cognitive Training in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Early Alzheimer’s Disease: A Systematic Review
Current Alzheimer Research Thrombolysis for Acute Ischemic Stroke
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Neuropeptide Conversion to Bioactive Fragments - An Important Pathway in Neuromodulation
Current Protein & Peptide Science Purinergic Signalling and Neurological Diseases: An Update
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Antiepileptic Drug Interactions - Principles and Clinical Implications
Current Neuropharmacology Impact of Ritonavir, Atazanavir and Their Combination on the CYP3A4 Induction by Efavirenz in Primary Human Hepatocytes
Drug Metabolism Letters Screening for Inhibitors of Tau Polymerization
Current Alzheimer Research Phytochemicals as Adjunctive with Conventional Anticancer Therapies
Current Pharmaceutical Design Biosynthesis of Peptide Hormones Derived from Precursor Sequences
Current Medicinal Chemistry Neural Stem Cell Transplantation and CNS Diseases
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Cognitive Consequences of a Sustained Monocyte Type 1 IFN Response in HIV-1 Infection
Current HIV Research New Insights into the Pleiotropic Effects of Statins for Stroke Prevention
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Gabapentin-Mediated Effects on Voltage- and Ligand-Gated Currents
Current Neuropharmacology Spatio-temporal Distribution of Meningitis in HIV Patients in Northern Egypt (2000-2018)
Current HIV Research Mitochondrial, Metabolic and Genotoxic Effects of Antiretroviral Nucleoside Reverse-Transcriptase Inhibitors
Anti-Infective Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Editorial (Thematic Issues: Pharmacological Intervention for Down Syndrome Cognitive Deficits: Emerging Drug Targets)
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Environmental Toxicants as Extrinsic Epigenetic Factors for Parkinsonism: Studies Employing Transgenic C. elegans Model
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets A High Accumulation of Hair Minerals in Mongolian People: 2nd Report; Influence of Manganese, Iron, Lead, Cadmium and Aluminum to Oxidative Stress, Parkinsonism and Arthritis
Current Aging Science Bone Marrow Microenvironment: A Newly Recognized Target for Diabetes- Induced Cellular Damage
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets