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Current Drug Discovery Technologies

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1570-1638
ISSN (Online): 1875-6220

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

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

Volume 11, Issue 3, 2014

Page: [197 - 213] Pages: 17

DOI: 10.2174/1570163811666140616153436

Price: $65

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.

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


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