Protective effects of curcumin on ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is a term used to describe phenomena connected to the dysfunction of various tissue damage due to reperfusion after ischemic injury. While I/R may result in systemic inflammatory response syndrome or multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, there is still a long way to improve therapeutic outcomes. A number of cellular metabolic and ultrastructural alterations occur by prolonged ischemia. Ischemia increases the expression of proinflammatory gene products and bioactive substances within the endothelium, such as cytokines, leukocytes, and adhesion molecules, even as suppressing the expression of other "protective" gene products and substances, such as thrombomodulin and constitutive nitric oxide synthase (e.g., prostacyclin, nitric oxide [NO]). Curcumin is the primary phenolic pigment derived from turmeric, the powdered rhizome of Curcuma longa. Numerous studies have shown that curcumin has strong antiinflammatory and antioxidant characteristics. It also prevents lipid peroxidation and scavenges free radicals like superoxide anion, singlet oxygen, NO, and hydroxyl. In our study, we highlight the mechanisms of protective effects of curcumin against I/R injury in various organs.

Anticancer and apoptotic activities of parthenolide in combination with epirubicin in mda-mb-468 breast cancer cells.

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women worldwide. Unfortunately, current therapeutic methods are not completely efficient. Hence, combination therapy with medicinal plants has attracted several kinds of research. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the apoptotic and anti-cancer effect of Parthenolide in combination with Epirubicin in the MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cell line. In this study,  the anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effect of Parthenolide in combination with Epirubicin and without it, in the MDA-MB-468 cell line have been assessed by MTT test, Hoescht staining and flow cytometry methods. Our outcomes showed that Parthenolide treatment in the present of Epirubicin led to a decrease in the minimum toxic concentration of Parthenolide and Epirubicin in comparison with individual treatments. Then, to achieve a likely molecular mechanism of mentioned drugs Bax and Bcl2 expression level evaluated by Real-time PCR and subsequently, Western blotting has been estimated the protein level of Caspase 3. Our data indicated that the treatment of cells with Parthenolide led to up-regulation of Bax and downregulation of Bcl2 at mRNA level. Moreover, Parthenolide treatment led to the obvious alternation of Caspase3 protein level. These results indicated that Parthenolide in combination with Epirubicin have significant cytotoxicity due to targeting the main regulators of apoptosis. Hence, according to lack of cytotoxicity of Parthenolide on normal cells that lead to reduction of drug side effects, it could be suggested as an adjuvant therapy with Epirubicin after complementary research on animal model and clinical trial.

Therapeutic potential of curcumin in diabetic complications.

Diabetes mellitus is an extremely prevalent endocrine disease and a major global public health concern. Diabetic complications, such as retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy and cardiovascular disease, are common and majorly impact a patient's quality of life. Curcumin, the major active component of turmeric, possesses extensive known pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antitumor effects. Increasing evidence suggests that curcumin may offer protection against diabetic complications. The current review focuses on the possible molecular targets and pathways involved in diabetic complications and, in particular, the multi-target approach of curcumin in attenuating diabetic nephropathy, retinopathy, and neuropathy.