The Effects of Curcumin on Astrocytes in Common Neurodegenerative Conditions

Ameer A Alameri; Muhammad Usman Ghanni; Arsalan Ali; Mandeep Singh; Moaed E Al-Gazally; Abbas F Almulla; Andrés Alexis Ramírez-Coronel; Yasser Fakri Mustafa; Reena Gupta; Rasha Fadhel Obaid; Gamal A Gabr; Bagher Farhood

doi:10.2174/1389557523666230502143131

The Effects of Curcumin on Astrocytes in Common Neurodegenerative Conditions

Mini Rev Med Chem. 2023;23(22):2117-2129. doi: 10.2174/1389557523666230502143131.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemistry, College of Science, University of Babylon, Babylon, Iraq.
² 60 Beded Hospital Khurrianwala, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
³ Rawalpindi Medical University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
⁴ Department of Physical Education, University of Jammu, Jammu, India.
⁵ College of Medicine, University of Al-Ameed, Karbala, Iraq.
⁶ Medical Laboratory Technology Department, College of Medical Technology, The Islamic University, Najaf, Iraq.
⁷ Azogues Campus Nursing Career, Health and Behavior Research Group (HBR), Psychometry and Ethology Laboratory, Catholic University of Cuenca, Cuenca, Ecuador.
⁸ Doctorate in Psychology, University of Palermo, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
⁹ Epidemiology and Biostatistics Research Group, CES University, Medellin, Colombia.
¹⁰ Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Mosul, Mosul-41001, Iraq.
¹¹ Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, GLA University, District-Mathura, U. P., Pincode, 281406, India.
¹² Department of Biomedical Engineering, Al-Mustaqbal University College, Babylon, Iraq.
¹³ Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, 11942, Saudi Arabia.
¹⁴ Agricultural Genetic Engineering Research Institute (AGERI), Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt.
¹⁵ Department of Medical Physics and Radiology, Faculty of Paramedical Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.

PMID: 37132107
DOI: 10.2174/1389557523666230502143131

Abstract

Neurodegenerative diseases are age-related, multifactorial, and complicated conditions that affect the nervous system. In most cases, these diseases may begin with an accumulation of misfolded proteins rather than decay before they develop clinical symptoms. The progression of these diseases can be influenced by a number of internal and external factors, including oxidative damage, neuro-inflammation, and the accumulation of misfolded amyloid proteins. Astrocytes, with the highest abundance among the cells of the mammalian central nervous system, perform several important activities, such as maintaining brain homeostasis and playing a role in the neurodegenerative condition onset and progress. Therefore, these cells have been considered to be potential targets for managing neurodegeneration. Curcumin, with multiple special properties, has been effectively prescribed to manage various diseases. It has hepato-protective, anti-carcinogenic, cardio-protective, thrombo-suppressive, anti-inflammatory, chemo-therapeutic, anti-arthritic, chemo-preventive, and anti-oxidant activities. In the current review, the effects of curcumin on astrocytes in common neurodegenerative conditions, such as Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease, are discussed. Hence, it can be concluded that astrocytes play a critical role in neurodegenerative diseases, and curcumin is able to directly modulate astrocyte activity in neurodegenerative diseases.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Astrocyte cells; Huntington’s disease; Parkinson’s disease; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; curcumin; multiple sclerosis; neurodegenerative conditions.