Transformation of Curcumin from Food Additive to Multifunctional Medicine: Nanotechnology Bridging the Gap

Title:Transformation of Curcumin from Food Additive to Multifunctional Medicine: Nanotechnology Bridging the Gap

Volume: 11 Issue: 3

Author(s): Mohammad Zaki Ahmad, Shabib Akhter, Nehal Mohsin, Basel A. Abdel-Wahab, Javed Ahmad, Musarrat Husain Warsi, Mahfoozur Rahman, Neha Mallick and Farhan Jalees Ahmad

Affiliation:

Keywords: Anticancer, anti-inflammatory, bioavailability, curcumin nanocarriers, curcumin, nanocurcumin, nanoparticles, neuroprotective, solid lipid nanoparticles.

Abstract: Curcumin (CUR) is a yellow-coloured polyphenolic compound obtained from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa. In-depth pharmacological screening of curcumin has given the evidence that CUR persuades shielding and curative effects against various cancers, cardiovascular, wound healing effect and neuro disorders etc owning to anti-oxidant, antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic and antimicrobial activities. However, miserable bioavailability due to poor aqueous solubility limits the application of CUR in various ailments. Different methodologies including the nanoparticle technology have been reported for the bioavailability enhancement of CUR. Nanoparticles exhibit not only the improvement in the solubility of CUR and alike lipophilic molecules (resulted in improved bioavailability) but also giving the opportunity for the disease specific cellular and organ targeting. Improved bioavailability and disease based site specific delivery of CUR is more likely to bring it as a safe multifunctional medicine.

Cite this article as:

Ahmad Zaki Mohammad, Akhter Shabib, Mohsin Nehal, Abdel-Wahab A. Basel, Ahmad Javed, Warsi Husain Musarrat, Rahman Mahfoozur, Mallick Neha and Ahmad Jalees Farhan, Transformation of Curcumin from Food Additive to Multifunctional Medicine: Nanotechnology Bridging the Gap, Current Drug Discovery Technologies 2014; 11 (3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1570163811666140616153436