Curcuma Contra Cancer? Curcumin and Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Strategies for Improving Bioavailability, Bioactivity, and Physical-Chemical Behavior of Curcumin

Curcumin (CCM) is one of the most frequently explored plant compounds with various biological actions such as antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antineoplastic, and antioxidant/anti-inflammatory properties. The laboratory data and clinical trials have demonstrated that the bioavailability and bioactivity of curcumin are influenced by the feature of the curcumin molecular complex types. Curcumin has a high capacity to form molecular complexes with proteins (such as whey proteins, bovine serum albumin, β-lactoglobulin), carbohydrates, lipids, and natural compounds (e.g., resveratrol, piperine, quercetin). These complexes increase the bioactivity and bioavailability of curcumin. The current review provides these derivatization strategies for curcumin in terms of biological and physico-chemical aspects with a strong focus on different type of proteins, characterization methods, and thermodynamic features of protein–curcumin complexes, and with the aim of evaluating the best performances. The current literature review offers, taking into consideration various biological effects of the CCM, a whole approach for CCM-biomolecules interactions such as CCM-proteins, CCM-nanomaterials, and CCM-natural compounds regarding molecular strategies to improve the bioactivity as well as the bioavailability of curcumin in biological systems.

Blue light emitting diodes enhance the antivirulence effects of Curcumin against Helicobacter pylori

Introduction. Growing concern about the increasing frequency of resistance of Helicobacter pylori to the available antimicrobial agents worldwide has encouraged the search for new strategies in treating and eradicating H. pylori infections. Endoscopic blue-light therapy has been used in patients with H. pylori gastritis with limited success due to subsequent repopulation with H. pylori. Clinical trials using Curcumin could not eradicate infection either.Aim. We studied the effect of blue light emitting diodes (LEDs) in conjunction with Curcumin on H. pylori, since this has not been previously reported.Methodology. We examined the effect of Curcumin with and without irradiation with blue LEDs on the viability of H. pylori and four key factors important for colonization and establishment of H. pylori infection, namely urease production, motility, adhesion and biofilm formation.Results. We found that a combination of Curcumin and blue LEDs caused significant reductions in viability, urease production, motility, haemagglutination activity, as well as increased disruption of mature preformed biofilms of H. pylori, in comparison to Curcumin alone (P<0.0001), at sublethal concentrations of Curcumin.Conclusion. Targeting the virulence factors of H. pylori with blue LED photoactivated Curcumin would theoretically cripple this pathogen from colonizing and causing tissue damage and perhaps overcome the problem of repopulation with H. pylori that often occurs following endoscopic blue-light therapy.

Targeting epigenetic regulators in the treatment of T-cell lymphoma

Introduction: T-cell lymphomas represent a broad group of malignant T-cell neoplasms with marked molecular, clinical, and biologic heterogeneity. Survival rates after conventional chemotherapy regimens are poor for most subtypes and new therapies are needed. Rapidly expanding knowledge in the field of epigenomics and the development of an increasing number of epigenetic-modifying agents have created new opportunities for epigenetic therapies for patients with this complex group of diseases.Areas covered: The present review summarizes current knowledge on epigenetic alterations in T-cell lymphomas, availability, and mechanisms of action of epigenetic-modifying agents, results of clinical trials of epigenetic therapies in T-cell lymphomas, status of FDA approval, and biomarker approaches to guide therapy. Promising future directions are discussed.Expert opinion: Mutations in epigenetic-modifying genes are among the most common genetic alterations in T-cell lymphomas, highlighting the potential for epigenetic therapies to improve management of this group of diseases. Single-agent efficacy is well documented, leading to FDA approval for several indications, but overall response rates and durability of responses remain modest. Critical next steps for the field include optimizing combination therapies that incorporate epigenetic-modifying agents and developing predictive biomarkers that help guide patient and drug selection.

Curcumin inhibits NF-kB and Wnt/β-catenin pathways in cervical cancer cells

Curcumin is a natural non-toxic phenol which is isolated from Curcumin longa L. Mounting evidence has revealed the anticancer properties of curcumin in various tumors, but the underlying molecular mechanisms of this suppression in cervical cancer is still remained unclear. Here we assessed the antitumor effects of curcumin compared with 5-Fluorouracil in Hella cells in spheroids models and monolayer cell cultures. The anti-proliferative effects of curcumin and 5-Fluorouracil were as examined in spheroid and monolayer models. The expression levels of Wnt/β-catenin and NF-kB pathways as well as the influence of the cell cycle were evaluated. Curcumin inhibited cell growth in Hella cells through the regulation of NF-kB and Wnt pathways. Also, cells developed a G2/M cell cycle arrest followed by sub-G1 apoptosis with 5-Fluorouracil and curcumin. It was also shown that curcumin either considerably affects the Wnt/β-catenin and NF-kB pathways. We showed that curcumin inhibits invasion and proliferation of cervical cancer cells via impairment of NF-kB and Wnt/β-catenin pathways, proposing further studies on the potential impacts of this compound on cancer therapy.

Bavachin induces the apoptosis of multiple myeloma cell lines by inhibiting the activation of nuclear factor kappa B and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3

Bavachin is a phytoestrogen purified from natural herbal plants such as Psoralea corylifolia. In this study, we examined the effect of bavachin in multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines. We found that bavachin decreased the viability of MM cell lines, but was not cytotoxic towards normal cells. It inhibited the activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). Furthermore, bavachin increased the expression of p53 and NOXA, and decreased the expression of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP), survivin, B cell lymphoma-extra large (Bcl-xL), and Bcl-2. Additionally, bavachin induced apoptosis by the activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9, implicating the involvement of the mitochondrial pathway. Our results suggest that bavachin induces apoptosis through the inhibition of NF-κB and STAT3 activation in MM cell lines. Most importantly, few NF-κB and STAT3 inhibitors with high efficiency, specificity, and safety are currently available for clinical cancer therapy. Hence, bavachin, which targets NF-κB and STAT3, is a potential anticancer agent for the treatment of MM.

Curcumin Reverses the Diazepam-Induced Cognitive Impairment by Modulation of Oxidative Stress and ERK 1/2/NF-κB Pathway in Brain

Oxidative stress and inflammation can be involved in cognitive dysfunction associated with neurodegenerative disorders. Diazepam (DZP) administration has been chosen to simulate the memory impairment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of curcumin (CUR) on spatial cognition, ambulatory activity, and blood and brain oxidative stress levels. The ERK/NF-κB signaling pathway and the histopathological changes in the hippocampus and frontal lobe, in diazepam-treated rats, were also analyzed. The animals were divided into 4 groups: control, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) + CUR, CMC + DZP, and CUR + CMC + DZP. CUR (150 mg/kg b.w.) was orally administered for 28 days. DZP (2 mg/kg b.w.) was intraperitoneally administered 20 minutes before the behavioral tests (open field test, Y-maze, and elevated plus maze). CUR improved the spontaneous alternation behavior, decreased the oxidative stress levels, both in the blood and in the hippocampus, and downregulated the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK 1/2)/nuclear transcription factor- (NF-) κB/pNF-κB pathway in the hippocampus and the iNOS expression in the hippocampus and frontal lobe of the DZP-treated rats. Histopathologically, no microscopic changes were found. The immunohistochemical signal of iNOS decreased in the DZP and CUR-treated group. Thus, our findings suggest that curcumin administration may improve the cognitive performance and may also have an antioxidant effect.

Nanomedicine and cancer immunotherapy: focus on indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase inhibitors

Nanomedicine application in cancer immunotherapy is currently one of the most challenging areas in cancer therapeutic intervention. Innovative solutions have been provided by nanotechnology to deliver cytotoxic agents to the cancer cells partially affecting the healthy cells of the body during the process. Nanoparticle-based drug delivery is an emerging approach to stimulate the immune responses against cancer. The inhibition of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) is a pivotal area of research in cancer immunotherapy. IDO is a heme-containing immunosuppressive enzyme, which is responsible for the degradation of tryptophan while increasing the concentration of kynurenine metabolites. Various preclinical studies showed that IDO inhibition in certain diseases may result in significant therapeutic effects. Here, we provide a review of the natural and synthetic inhibitors of IDO. These inhibitors are classified according to their source, inhibitory concentrations, the chemical structure, and the mechanism of action. Tumor-targeted chemotherapy is an advanced technique and has more advantages as compared to the conventional chemotherapy. Search for more efficient and less toxic nanoparticles in conjunction with compounds to inhibit IDO is still an area of interest for several research groups worldwide, especially revealing to be an extensive and a promising area in cancer therapeutic innovations.

Prognostic Biomarkers for Hodgkin Lymphoma

The prognosis of patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma following chemo- and radiotherapy has been excellent during the last 4 decades. However, the development of secondary malignancies is of major concern. Therefore, the reduction of radiotherapy application is a major objective of ongoing clinical trials. De-escalation of treatment may increase the risk of relapses and thus may lead to reappearance of prognostic factors. Prognostic biomarkers might help to identify patients who are at increased risk of relapse. This review summarizes the current knowledge about potential prognostic biomarkers for patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma.

Spices for Prevention and Treatment of Cancers

Spices have been widely used as food flavorings and folk medicines for thousands of years. Numerous studies have documented the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of spices, which might be related to prevention and treatment of several cancers, including lung, liver, breast, stomach, colorectum, cervix, and prostate cancers. Several spices are potential sources for prevention and treatment of cancers, such as Curcuma longa (tumeric), Nigella sativa (black cumin), Zingiber officinale (ginger), Allium sativum (garlic), Crocus sativus (saffron), Piper nigrum (black pepper) and Capsicum annum (chili pepper), which contained several important bioactive compounds, such as curcumin, thymoquinone, piperine and capsaicin. The main mechanisms of action include inducing apoptosis, inhibiting proliferation, migration and invasion of tumors, and sensitizing tumors to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. This review summarized recent studies on some spices for prevention and treatment of cancers, and special attention was paid to bioactive components and mechanisms of action.

The Curcumin Analogue 1,5-Bis(2-hydroxyphenyl)-1,4-pentadiene-3-one Induces Apoptosis and Downregulates E6 and E7 Oncogene Expression in HPV16 and HPV18-Infected Cervical Cancer Cells

In an effort to study curcumin analogues as an alternative to improve the therapeutic efficacy of curcumin, we screened the cytotoxic potential of four diarylpentanoids using the HeLa and CaSki cervical cancer cell lines. Determination of their EC₅₀ values indicated relatively higher potency of 1,5-bis(2-hydroxyphenyl)-1,4-pentadiene-3-one (MS17, 1.03 ± 0.5 μM; 2.6 ± 0.9 μM) and 1,5-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,4-pentadiene-3-one (MS13, 2.8 ± 0.4; 6.7 ± 2.4 μM) in CaSki and HeLa, respectively, with significantly greater growth inhibition at 48 and 72 h of treatment compared to the other analogues or curcumin. Based on cytotoxic and anti-proliferative activity, MS17 was selected for comprehensive apoptotic studies. At 24 h of treatment, fluorescence microscopy detected that MS17-exposed cells exhibited significant morphological changes consistent with apoptosis, corroborated by an increase in nucleosomal enrichment due to DNA fragmentation in HeLa and CaSki cells and activation of caspase-3 activity in CaSki cells. Quantitative real-time PCR also detected significant down-regulation of HPV18- and HPV16-associated E6 and E7 oncogene expression following treatment. The overall data suggests that MS17 treatment has cytotoxic, anti-proliferative and apoptosis-inducing potential in HPV-positive cervical cancer cells. Furthermore, its role in down-regulation of HPV-associated oncogenes responsible for cancer progression merits further investigation into its chemotherapeutic role for cervical cancer.

The multifaceted role of curcumin in cancer prevention and treatment

Despite significant advances in treatment modalities over the last decade, neither the incidence of the disease nor the mortality due to cancer has altered in the last thirty years. Available anti-cancer drugs exhibit limited efficacy, associated with severe side effects, and are also expensive. Thus identification of pharmacological agents that do not have these disadvantages is required. Curcumin, a polyphenolic compound derived from turmeric (Curcumin longa), is one such agent that has been extensively studied over the last three to four decades for its potential anti-inflammatory and/or anti-cancer effects. Curcumin has been found to suppress initiation, progression, and metastasis of a variety of tumors. These anti-cancer effects are predominantly mediated through its negative regulation of various transcription factors, growth factors, inflammatory cytokines, protein kinases, and other oncogenic molecules. It also abrogates proliferation of cancer cells by arresting them at different phases of the cell cycle and/or by inducing their apoptosis. The current review focuses on the diverse molecular targets modulated by curcumin that contribute to its efficacy against various human cancers.

Curcumin inhibits gastric inflammation induced by Helicobacter pylori infection in a mouse model

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection triggers a sequence of gastric alterations starting with an inflammation of the gastric mucosa that, in some cases, evolves to gastric cancer. Efficient vaccination has not been achieved, thus it is essential to find alternative therapies, particularly in the nutritional field. The current study evaluated whether curcumin could attenuate inflammation of the gastric mucosa due to H. pylori infection. Twenty-eight C57BL/6 mice, were inoculated with the H. pylori SS1 strain; ten non-infected mice were used as controls. H. pylori infection in live mice was followed-up using a modified 13C-Urea Breath Test (13C-UBT) and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Histologically confirmed, gastritis was observed in 42% of infected non-treated mice at both 6 and 18 weeks post-infection. These mice showed an up-regulation of the expression of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, as well as of toll-like receptors (TLRs) and MyD88, at both time points. Treatment with curcumin decreased the expression of all these mediators. No inflammation was observed by histology in this group. Curcumin treatment exerted a significant anti-inflammatory effect in H. pylori-infected mucosa, pointing to the promising role of a nutritional approach in the prevention of H. pylori induced deleterious inflammation while the eradication or prevention of colonization by effective vaccine is not available.

Curcumin induced human gastric cancer BGC-823 cells apoptosis by ROS-mediated ASK1-MKK4-JNK stress signaling pathway

The signaling mediated by stress-activated MAP kinases (MAPK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) has well-established importance in cancer. In the present report, we investigated the effects of curcumin on the signaling pathway in human gastric cancer BGC-823 cells. Curcumin induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and BGC-823 cells apoptosis. Inhibition of ROS generation by antioxidant (NAC or Trion) significantly prevented curcumin-mediated apoptosis. Notably, we observed that curcumin activated ASK1, a MAPKKK that is oxidative stress sensitive and responsible to phosphorylation of JNK via triggering cascades, up-regulated an upstream effector of the JNK, MKK4, and phosphorylated JNK protein expression in BGC-823 cells. However, curcumin induced ASK1-MKK4-JNK signaling was attenuated by NAC. All the findings confirm the possibility that oxidative stress-activated ASK1-MKK4-JNK signaling cascade promotes the apoptotic response in curcumin-treated BGC-823 cells.