Clinical applications of curcumin

The morbidity of lifestyle-related diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes mellitus is increasing in industrialized countries including Japan each year, and dealing with this increased morbidity is a problem that needs prompt attention. Curcumin is a natural polyphenol derived from the root of Curcuma longa and has multiple actions, such as anti-inflammatory action, anti-cancer action, anti-oxidant action, anti-viral action, and cytoprotective action. It is expected that curcumin has therapeutic potency to prevent various lifestyle-related diseases. However, curcumin is not readily soluble in water and has an extremely low level of bioavailability. Over the past decade, preparation techniques such as nanoparticles and micelles have led to the development of highly absorbable curcumin preparations, paving the road for human use of curcumin. This article summarizes a number of basic studies and clinical trials involving curcumin and discusses the potential for clinical use of curcumin.

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