Therapeutic effects of curcumin, the anti-inflammatory agent, against neurodegenerative diseases such as glaucoma

Aggarwal BB, Harikumar KB:

Potential therapeutic effects of curcumin, the anti-inflammatory agent, against neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic, autoimmune and neoplastic diseases.

Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2008;

Cytokine Research Laboratory, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The
University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United
States.

Ancient treatments are ignored because neither their active component nor
their molecular targets are well defined. For centuries it has been known
that turmeric exhibits anti-inflammatory activity, but extensive research
performed within the past two decades has shown that the this activity of
turmeric is due to curcumin, a diferuloylmethane. This agent has been shown
to regulate numerous transcription factors, cytokines, protein kinases,
adhesion molecules, redox status and enzymes that have been linked to
inflammation. The process of inflammation has been shown to play a major
role in most chronic illnesses, including neurodegenerative, cardiovascular,
pulmonary, metabolic, autoimmune and neoplastic diseases. In the current
review, we provide evidence for the potential role of curcumin in the
prevention and treatment of various proinflammatory chronic diseases. These
features, combined with the pharmacological safety and negligible cost,
render curcumin an attractive agent to explore further.

Dave's comment: Turmeric will prove to be superior to curcumin (when science finally sees the whole picture). Furthermore, traditional herbal formulations that utilize turmeric in combination with synergistic herbs tailored for specific purposes will prove to be the best of all. This latest research on curcumin is welcome, but it is far from the last word on turmeric or herbal medicines.