Effects of curcumin on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A scientific metrogy study

Xiankuan Li; Weisan Chen; Jiali Ren; Xinchen Gao; Ying Zhao; Tianbao Song; Kun Fu; Yanchao Zheng; Jinlong Yang

doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2023.155241

Effects of curcumin on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A scientific metrogy study

Phytomedicine. 2024 Jan:123:155241. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.155241. Epub 2023 Nov 23.

Authors

Xiankuan Li¹, Weisan Chen², Jiali Ren², Xinchen Gao², Ying Zhao², Tianbao Song², Kun Fu³, Yanchao Zheng⁴, Jinlong Yang⁵

Affiliations

¹ School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China; State Key Lab of New Ceramics and Fine Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Therapeutic Substance of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China.
² School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Therapeutic Substance of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China.
³ Second Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300120, China.
⁴ School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China. Electronic address: zhengyanchao@tjutcm.edu.cn.
⁵ State Key Lab of New Ceramics and Fine Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China. Electronic address: jlyang@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn.

PMID: 38128395
DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.155241

Abstract

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common chronic liver diseases encountered in clinical practice. Curcumin can alleviate insulin resistance, inhibit oxidative stress response, reduce inflammation, reduce liver fat deposition, and effectively improve NAFLD through various modalities, inhibiting the progression into cirrhosis and fibrosis.

Purpose: To explore the current status, hot spots, and developing trends of curcumin in NAFLD treatment through quantitative scientific analysis to serve as a reference for subsequent studies.

Study design: A comprehensive analysis of the mechanism of action of curcumin in the treatment of NAFLD and methods to increase curcumin bioavailability using bibliometric analysis and literature review.

Methods: This study used VOSviewer software to analyze the literature related to curcumin treatment of NAFLD in the Web of Science (WOS) core set database. A comprehensive and in-depth review was conducted based on the results of scientific econometric research and literature review.

Results: The review observed that curcumin can activate various signaling pathways such as AMPK and NF-κB to inhibit oxidative stress and apoptosis, thereby reflecting its pharmacological effects: lowering lipid, anti-inflammatory, reducing insulin resistance, and anti-fibrosis. These mechanisms improve or even reverse the complex pathological features of lipid metabolism disorders associated with NAFLD. Curcumin also can potentially serve as a primary regulatory target for treating hepatic steatosis using gut microbiota. However, these pharmacological effects of curcumin were limited owing to its low bioavailability.

Conclusion: This review discusses NAFLD treatment with curcumin, analyzes the reasons for its low bioavailability, and introduces models for studying and methods for improving curcumin bioavailability. As research on NAFLD grows, future research should capture the trend of basic research, pay attention to clinical research, and continuously explore the therapeutic potential of curcumin.

Keywords: A scientific metrology study; Bioavailability; Curcumin; Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Curcumin* / metabolism
Humans
Inflammation / drug therapy
Insulin Resistance*
Liver
Liver Cirrhosis / metabolism
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease* / metabolism

Substances

Curcumin