Open Access

REVIEW

Curcumin in inflammatory bowel diseases: Cellular targets and molecular mechanisms

by AMYLLY SANUELLY DA PAZ MARTINS^1,#, MARLA DE CERQUEIRA ALVES^2,#, ORLANDO ROBERTO PIMENTEL DE ARAÚJO³, FABIANA OLIVEIRA DOS SANTOS CAMATARI⁴, MARÍLIA OLIVEIRA FONSECA GOULART^1,3,5, FABIANA ANDRÉA MOURA^2,6,*

1 Rede Nordeste de Biotecnologia (RENORBIO), Instituto de química e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Alagoas (UFAL), Maceió, 57072-900, Brasil
2 Programa de Pós-graduação em Nutrição (PPGNUT), Faculdade de Nutrição (FANUT), Universidade Federal de Alagoas (UFAL), Maceió, 57072-900, Brasil
3 Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química e Biotecnologia (PPGQB), Instituto de química e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Alagoas (UFAL), Maceió, 57072-900, Brasil
4 Colegiado de Nutrição, Universidade de Pernambuco (UPE), Campus Petrolina, Pernambuco, 56328-900, Brasil
5 Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da SaÚde (PPGCS), Instituto de Ciências da SaÚde, Universidade Federal de Alagoas (UFAL), Maceió, 57072-900, Brasil
6 Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Médicas (PPGCM), Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Alagoas (UFAL), Maceió, 57072-900, Brasil

* Corresponding Author: FABIANA ANDRÉA MOURA. Email:
# The two first authors contributed equally to this review

BIOCELL 2023, 47(11), 2547-2566. https://doi.org/10.32604/biocell.2023.043253

Received 27 June 2023; Accepted 08 September 2023; Issue published 27 November 2023

Abstract

Curcumin, a natural product, has exhibited promising effects in both animal models and clinical trials, interacting with a multitude of factors linked to Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). These factors encompass cytokines, oxidative stress-associated enzymes, and modulation of the intestinal microbiota. Notably, curcumin has demonstrated therapeutic potential in animal models of colitis, wherein it exerts a negative regulatory influence on pivotal signaling pathways such as PI3/Akt, JAK/STAT, and β-catenin. Moreover, it inhibits the expression of pro-inflammatory enzymes and co-stimulatory molecules (including RANKL, ICAM-1, CD205, CD256, TLR4, among others), while curbing immune cell chemotaxis, thereby attenuating the characteristic neutrophil infiltration observed in IBD. Another facet of curcumin’s action involves its modulation of the intestinal microbiota. Notably, the microbiota itself contributes to beneficial biotrans formations of curcumin, thereby enhancing its effectiveness in IBD treatment. On a clinical front, curcumin has demonstrated the ability to induce clinical and/or endoscopic remission without any reported toxic effects. Hence, curcumin warrants consideration as an adjunctive therapy in IBD management. Subsequent clinical investigations should concentrate on meticulously evaluating curcumin’s impact on these precise therapeutic targets.

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