ABSTRACT
Turmeric from the rhizome of plant Curcuma longa has been widely used as a spice for centuries in India and many other parts of Asia. In addition to its utilization as food avoring and coloring, turmeric has also been used as an herbal remedy to treat many different types of diseases, possibly due to its effectiveness and low toxicity (Aggarwal et al. 2007). Curcuminoids have been identied as the major active components from turmeric that contribute to its therapeutic properties. Curcumin (curcumin I), demethoxycurcumin (curcumin II), and bisdemethoxycurcumin (curcumin III) are three major curcuminoids found in turmeric (Figure 18.1). Among them, curcumin is considered as one of the most extensively studied dietary compounds for its anticancer, anti-inammatory, and antioxidant activities (Aggarwal et al. 2007). Curcumin is a multitargeting compound that modulates a wide variety of signaling pathways either through direct or indirect interaction with different molecules. The cancer chemopreventive or therapeutic effect of curcumin has been demonstrated in almost all kinds of cancers using in vitro or in vivo assays. There are 67 ongoing clinical trials being conducted on curcumin for various diseases, including cancers, asthma, dermatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, mild cognitive impairment, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, rheumatoid arthritis, depressive disorder, ulcerative colitis, and neurodegenerative Alzheimer’s disease (listed in https://clinicaltrials.gov, last accessed in February 2012). In this chapter, we will discuss the underlying mechanisms, the potential, and the challenges of developing curcumin as a cancer chemopreventive or therapeutic agent.
