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Chemopreventive properties of curcumin

    Frederick Charles Campbell

    Queen’s University of Belfast, Department of Surgery, Centre for Cancer and Cell Biology, Belfast, BT12 6BJ, Ireland.

    &
    Gavin Patrick Collett

    Queen’s University of Belfast, Department of Surgery, Centre for Cancer and Cell Biology, Belfast, BT12 6BJ, Ireland

    Published Online:https://doi.org/10.1517/14796694.1.3.405

    Inhibition of defined molecular steps of tumorigenesis by natural nontoxic compounds may be an efficient means to tackle the population cancer burden. Extensive research has addressed the chemotherapeutic potential of curcumin (diferuloylmethane), a relatively nontoxic plant-derived polyphenol. This review considers the following properties of curcumin: anticancer effects in animal model systems; metabolism; biological structure and pharmacokinetics; biological properties implicated in chemoprevention; antioxidant properties; influences upon Phase I and II carcinogen-metabolizing enzymes; signal transduction properties and the neoplastic phenotype; apoptosis evasion, cell proliferation, de-differentiation, migration and invasion and clinical studies. This review will summarize the unique properties of curcumin that may be exploited for successful clinical cancer prevention.

    Papers of special note have been highlighted as either of interest (•) or of considerable interest (••) to readers.

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