Abstract

AN OVERVIEW ON ANTICANCER ACTIVITY OF TURMERIC

Karan Babasaheb Katkar* and Rushikesh Atmaram Dahiphale

ABSTRACT

Natural products have received much attention due to their low toxicity, ability to overcome multiple targets involved in cancer, and their effectiveness in eliminating cancer stem cells for decades. Compounds, especially phytochemicals and their synthetic conjugates, have been extensively investigated for their potential in cancer prevention and treatment. The genus Curcuma belongs to the Zingiberaceae family. The genus includes about 80 species. Its geographical distribution extends to Southeast Asia, China, India, New Guinea and northern Australia. Turmeric is a herbaceous plant with thick, fleshy rhizomes, pseudostems, and leaf blades. Turmeric contains three curcumin analogues, curcumin, demethoxycurcumin (DMC), and bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC), collectively referred to as curcuminoids. Although the three compounds differ in their aromatic ring substitution, curcumin has two symmetrical o-methoxyphenols linked by a β,β-unsaturated β-diketone moiety, and BDMC is also symmetrical, but with two o- It has methoxy substitution, and DMC has an asymmetric structure. There is only one o-methoxy substitution. The number of chemopreventive and direct therapeutic effects of curcumin suggests that it may be a potential anticancer agent. has been shown to be active in various other in vitro models at doses comparable to humans. The effect of curcumin on ovarian cancer was evaluated in groups of animals treated with curcumin alone or in combination with docetaxel. Curcumin alone reduced mean tumor growth by 49-55% compared to controls, while the combination of curcumin and docetaxel reduced mean tumor growth by 77% compared to controls.

Keywords: Curcumin, Cancer, Chemotherapies, Potency of curcumin, Pharmacological action, Chemistry of curcumin.