curcumin and Infections

Monocytes and macrophages are important cells of the innate immune system that have diverse functions, including defense against invading pathogens, removal of dead cells by phagocytosis, antigen presentation in the context of MHC class I and class II molecules, and production of various pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines such as IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and MCP-1. In addition, pro-inflammatory (M1) and anti-inflammatory (M2) macrophages clearly play important roles in the progression of several inflammatory diseases. Therefore, therapies that target macrophage polarization and function by either blocking their trafficking to sites of inflammation, or skewing M1 to M2 phenotype polarization may hold clinical promise in several inflammatory diseases. Dietary-derived polyphenols have potent natural anti-oxidative properties. Within this group of polyphenols, curcumin has been shown to suppress macrophage inflammatory responses. Curcumin significantly reduces co-stimulatory molecules and also inhibits MAPK activation and the translocation of NF-κB p65. Curcumin can also polarize/repolarize macrophages toward the M2 phenotype. Curcumin-treated macrophages have been shown to be highly efficient at antigen capture and endocytosis via the mannose receptor. These novel findings provide new perspectives for the understanding of the immunopharmacological role of curcumin, as well as its therapeutic potential for impacting macrophage polarization and function in the context of inflammation-related disease. However, the precise effects of curcumin on the migration, differentiation, polarization and immunostimulatory functions of macrophages remain unknown. Therefore, in this review, we summarized whether curcumin can influence macrophage polarization, surface molecule expression, cytokine and chemokine production and their underlying pathways in the prevention of inflammatory diseases.

Topics: Alzheimer Disease; Animals; Antigen Presentation; Atherosclerosis; Cell Movement; Cell Polarity; Curcumin; Cytokines; Diet; Humans; Immunologic Factors; Infections; Liver Cirrhosis; Macrophages; Neoplasms; Obesity

Curcumin, from the spice turmeric, exhibits anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, antiviral, and neurotrophic activity and therefore holds promise as a therapeutic agent to prevent and treat several disorders. However, a major barrier to curcumin's clinical efficacy is its poor bioavailability. Efforts have therefore been dedicated to developing curcumin formulations with greater bioavailability and systemic tissue distribution. However, it is proposed in this review that curcumin's potential as a therapeutic agent may not solely rely on its bioavailability, but rather its medicinal benefits may also arise from its positive influence on gastrointestinal health and function. In this review, in vitro, animal, and human studies investigating the effects of curcumin on intestinal microbiota, intestinal permeability, gut inflammation and oxidative stress, anaphylactic response, and bacterial, parasitic, and fungal infections are summarized. It is argued that positive changes in these areas can have wide-ranging influences on both intestinal and extraintestinal diseases, and therefore presents as a possible mechanism behind curcumin's therapeutic efficacy.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Biological Availability; Curcumin; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Gastrointestinal Tract; Health Promotion; Health Status; Humans; Infections; Inflammation; Intestinal Mucosa; Intestines; Oxidative Stress; Permeability

Curcumin extracted from the rhizome of

Topics: Anti-Infective Agents; Biofilms; Biphenyl Compounds; Cell Death; Cell Line; Curcumin; Drug Liberation; Free Radical Scavengers; Humans; Infections; Kinetics; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Nanofibers; Picrates; Polyesters; Quorum Sensing; Thermogravimetry; Tissue Engineering

Topics: Benzylisoquinolines; Berberine; Berberine Alkaloids; Drug Stability; Drug Storage; Humans; Hydrastis; Infections; Mass Spectrometry; Plant Preparations; Plant Roots; Principal Component Analysis

The efficacy of the plant-derived polyphenol curcumin, in various aspects of health and wellbeing, are a matter of public interest. An internet search of the term "Curcumin" displays about 12 million hits. Among the multitudinous information presented on partly doubtful websites, there are reports attracting the reader with promises ranging from eternal youth to cures for incurable diseases. Unfortunately, many of these reports are not based on scientific evidence, but they feed the desideratum of the reader for a "miracle cure". This circumstance makes it very difficult for researchers, whose work is scientifically sound and evidence is based on the therapeutic benefits (or side effects) of curcumin, to demarcate their results from sensational reports that circulate in the web and in other media. This is only one of many obstacles making it difficult to pave curcumin's way into clinical application; others are its nonpatentability and low economic usability. A further impediment comes from scientists who never worked with curcumin or any other natural plant-derived compound in their own labs. They have never tested these compounds in any scientific assay, neither in vitro nor in vivo; however, they claim, in a sometimes polemic manner, that everything that has so far been published on curcumin's molecular effects is based on artefacts. The here presented Special Issue comprises a collection of five scientifically sound articles and nine reviews reporting on the therapeutic benefits and the molecular mechanisms of curcumin or of chemically modified curcumin in various diseases ranging from malignant tumors to chronic diseases, microbial infection, and even neurodegenerative diseases. The excellent results of the scientific projects that underlie the five original papers give reason to hope that curcumin will be part of novel treatment strategies in the near future-either as monotherapy or in combination with other drugs or therapeutic applications.

Topics: Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Antineoplastic Agents; Curcumin; Humans; Infections; Inflammation; Neoplasms; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Neuroprotective Agents

Curcumin, by virtue of its ability to function as an immunomodulator, has the potential to serve as an adjunct drug to treat infectious diseases and provide long-term protection. The current need is to establish clinical trials with curcumin as an adjunct drug against specific infectious diseases.

Topics: Adjuvants, Immunologic; Animals; Anti-Infective Agents; Clinical Trials as Topic; Curcumin; Humans; Immunologic Factors; Infections