2021/12/22 by Liguo Xie, Xiuling Ji, Qi Zhang +1
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Curcumin's Biomedical Applications #Natural product bioactivities and synthesis #Retinoids in leukemia and cellular processes
paper · pdf · doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2021.112567
openalex publication_date 2021/12/22 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
Curcumin, a phytochemical derived from the rhizome of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), has a broad group of substances with antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anticancer activities. The anticancer activity of curcumin and its derivatives are mainly related to its regulation of signal transduction pathways. However, due to the low oral availability of curcumin, fast metabolism and other pharmacokinetic properties limit the application of curcumin in the treatment of cancer. Evidence suggests that curcumin combined with photodynamic therapy can overcome the limitation of curcumin's low bioavailability by acting on apoptosis pathways, such as B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and caspase family, and affecting cell cycle. This paper reviews the structure and pharmacokinetics of curcumin, focusing on the anticancer activity of curcumin combined with photodynamic therapy and the effects on cancer-related signal pathways.