Correlations between morphological changes induced by curcumin and its biological activities

Rom J Morphol Embryol. 2018;59(1):65-69.

Abstract

Curcumin is a phytochemical polyphenol extracted from turmeric rhizome, with multiple biological activities, intensively studied in various therapeutic areas. Its effects covers a wide range of specialties, from the neuroprotective to the antimetastatic properties, influencing pathologies from cardiovascular, neuronal and oncological fields, as a part of its broad spectrum of action. These effects are explained by antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticarcinogenic simultaneous roles of curcumin and its derivatives. In this review, we selected the information about morphological evidences correlated with the biological effects on the following organ systems: the central nervous system (including neurological pathology, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease), the cardiovascular system (including disorders like atherosclerosis, endothelial dysfunction and drug-induced myotoxicity), multiple forms of cancer, and metabolic syndromes including diabetes. The central point of this review was to target a variety of morphological changes at microscopic level induced by curcumin, using different microscopy techniques.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antioxidants / pharmacology*
  • Antioxidants / therapeutic use*
  • Curcumin / pharmacology*
  • Curcumin / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / methods*

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Curcumin