Bioavailability of Curcumin: Problems and Promises

[Guest guest]

Mol Pharm. 2007 Nov 14

Bioavailability of Curcumin: Problems and Promises.

Anand P, Kunnumakkara AB, Newman RA, Aggarwal BB.

Cytokine Research Laboratory and Pharmaceutical Development Center,

Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas M.

D. Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030

Curcumin, a polyphenolic compound derived from dietary spice

turmeric, possesses diverse pharmacologic effects including anti-

inflammatory, antioxidant, antiproliferative and antiangiogenic

activities. Phase I clinical trials have shown that curcumin is safe

even at high doses (12 g/day) in humans but exhibit poor

bioavailability. Major reasons contributing to the low plasma and

tissue levels of curcumin appear to be due to poor absorption, rapid

metabolism, and rapid systemic elimination.

To improve the bioavailability of curcumin, numerous approaches have

been undertaken. These approaches involve, first, the use of

adjuvant like piperine that interferes with glucuronidation; second,

the use of liposomal curcumin; third, curcumin nanoparticles;

fourth, the use of curcumin phospholipid complex; and fifth, the use

of structural analogues of curcumin (e.g., EF-24). The latter has

been reported to have a rapid absorption with a peak plasma half-

life.

Despite the lower bioavailability, therapeutic efficacy of curcumin

against various human diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular

diseases, diabetes, arthritis, neurological diseases and Crohn's

disease, has been documented. Enhanced bioavailability of curcumin

in the near future is likely to bring this promising natural product

to the forefront of therapeutic agents for treatment of human

disease.