Therapeutic effect of curcumin in gastrointestinal cancers: A comprehensive review.

Korosh Morshedi, Sarina Borran, Mohammad Saeid Ebrahimi, Mohammad Jaber Masoud Khooy, Zeynab Sadat Seyedi, Atefeh Amiri, Mohammad Abbasi-Kolli, Maryam Fallah, Haroon Khan, Amirhossein Sahebkar, Hamed Mirzaei

Journal: Phytotherapy research : PTR 2021;35(9):4834-4897

PMID: 34173992

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Abstract

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers with a high global prevalence are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Accordingly, there is a great need to develop efficient therapeutic approaches. Curcumin, a naturally occurring agent, is a promising compound with documented safety and anticancer activities. Recent studies have demonstrated the activity of curcumin in the prevention and treatment of different cancers. According to systematic studies on curcumin use in various diseases, it can be particularly effective in GI cancers because of its high bioavailability in the gastrointestinal tract. Nevertheless, the clinical applications of curcumin are largely limited because of its low solubility and low chemical stability in water. These limitations may be addressed by the use of relevant analogues or novel delivery systems. Herein, we summarize the pharmacological effects of curcumin against GI cancers. Moreover, we highlight the application of curcumin's analogues and novel delivery systems in the treatment of GI cancers.

Address: School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.; School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.; Department of Agronomy, Science and Research Branch, Ahvaz Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran.; Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Kashan, Kashan, Iran.; Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.; Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.; Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.; Department of Pharmacy, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, Pakistan.; Applied Biomedical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.; Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

DOI: 10.1002/ptr.7119

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MeSH Terms: Biological Availability, Curcumin, Gastrointestinal Neoplasms, Humans