Kurkuma jako lek przeciwzapalny i przeciwnowotworowy

Jacek M. Jankowski

Summary
Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is a principal yellow pigment present in the rhisome of turmeric (Curcuma longa L. Zingiberaceae). Curcumin has a wide array of pharmacological and biological activities as a antibiotic, anti-inflammatory and antitumor compound. The anti-inflammatory and antitumor properties of curcumin are manifested mainly through the inhibition of improper activation of nuclear transcription factor NF-KB. Curcumin by blocking activation of the factor NF-KB supresses among others expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), which are important enzymes that mediate inflammatory and carcinogenic processes. One of the mechanisms underlying inhibition of NF-KB activation by this compound involves repression of degradation of the inhibitory protein IKB, which hampers subsequent translocation into nucleus of freed NF-KB and activation of a wide array of proinflammatory genes, among other COX-2 and iNOS. Another mechanism of chemoprotective effect of curcumin involves suppression of activated c-Jun/AP-1 another transcription factor and inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC) activity induced by TPA (12-O tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate).

To jest tylko fragment artykułu. Aby przeczytać całość, przejdź do Czytelni medycznej.