Curcumin chemopreventive activity

Curcumin s chemopreventive activities in the colon may be mediated, at least in part, by modulation of key signaling pathways involved in cell proliferation, including... 

Nonn L, Duong D, Peehl DM. 2007. Chemopreventive anti-inflammatory activities of curcumin and other phytochcmicals mediated by MAP kinase phosphatase-5 in prostate cells. Carcinogenesis 28 1188-1196. 

Chemoprevention is a strategy used to block or suppress carcinogenesis and degenerative disease using dietary or pharmacological compounds. These chemo-preventive compounds include phenols [such as tm-butyl 4-hydroxyanisole (BHA), t-BHQ (active metabolite of BHA), ethoxyquine, curcumin (from turmeric) and resveratrol (from grapes)] and sulfur compounds [such as oltiplaz, sulforaphane... 

Plummer, S.M., Holloway, K.A., Manson, M.M., Munks, R.J., Kaptein, A., Farrow, S., and Howells, L., Inhibition of cyclooxygenase 2 expression in colon cells by the chemopreventive agent curcumin involves inhibition of NF-kappaB activation via the NIK/IKK signaling complex. Oncogene, 18, 6013, 1999. 

Recently, Youssef et al. [24] reported the synthesis of curcumin analogs as potential antioxidant and cancer chemopreventive agents. The general structures of the synthesized analogs are shown in Fig. (8). These compounds were tested for scavenging ability of DPPH free radicals and in an ATP chemiluminescence assay. The SAR conclusions from the results were mainly consistent with the prior conclusions drawn by other researchers. In addition, they found that di-substitution of the central methylene group resulted in decreased antioxidative activity. 

Several natural products, such as curcumin, glycyrrhetic acid and P-carotin, have been well known as anti-tumor-promoters, and hereafter, many active compounds will be found out from natural resources. For the application of natural products to the chemoprevention, the inhibitory mechanism of them on chemical carcinogenesis is one of the most essential problem to be solved. 

Polyphenols, such as curcumin, quercetin and resveratrol, are some examples of naturally occurring phytochemicals with proven antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, beneficial cardiovascular effects," antiatherosclerotic effects, chemopreventive, and anticarcinogenic effects. An abundance of mechanistic information has become available on how polyphenols derived from dietary sources, which have putative chemopreventive properties, interfere with tumor promotion and progression. The effect of these bioactive compounds on the organism is influenced by their bioavailability, namely, their ability to be effectively absorbed by the human body. However, the polyphenols have a poor bioavailability and are rapidly metabolized by human body, losing their potential beneficial effects. ... 

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