RESUMEN
Treatment of cancer, one of the most fatal diseases in the present century, has become a topic of global concern. Unfavorable unintentional effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatments have been the main reasons for the research on the discovery of drugs with a broader spectrum of effectiveness and efficiency, with minimal side effects. Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is a naturally occurring phenolic structure with anticancer properties through its inhibition of cell multiplication, metastasis, and prolongation of cell cycle suppression of apoptosis in various tumor cells. The primary restriction regarding the use of curcumin in cancer treatment is related to poor bioavailability and unfavorable pharmacokinetic profiles of curcumin due to its poor absorption rate, fast metabolism, and systemic elimination. A variety of ways have been proposed to overcome these limitations. With this background, the present study focuses on providing a comprehensive overview of the anticancer properties of curcumin derivatives and the synthesis of curcumin analogs with application to different types of cancers. The regulation of various target and signaling pathways is considered in various cancers, including breast, gastrointestinal, pancreatic, prostate, skin, and lung cancers. A review of the literature indicates that modifying the structure of curcumin through the substitution of the phenyl group and unsaturated carbon branch around the two main sites of oxygen can result in the improvement of physical and chemical properties, as well as the enhancement of physiological activities of the curcumin molecule and the anti-cancer activities of this polyphenol. Curcumin analogs demonstrate anticancer properties at multiple targets at different cell stages and by various signaling biochemical pathways. These include cytokines, transcription factors, growth factors, and modulation of genes involved in cellular proliferation and apoptosis in breast, gastrointestinal, skin, prostate, and lung cancers, thereby mitigating tumor progression.
RESUMEN
Obesity, as an unfavorable consequence of our modern lifestyle, can promote the emergence of other disorders, like diabetes and cardiovascular disease, that negatively impact quality of life. Therefore, prevention and treatment of obesity and its related comorbidities are critical. Lifestyle modification is the first and most important step but, in practical terms, presents a major challenge to many patients. So, the development of new strategies and therapies is critical for these patients. Although herbal bioactive compounds have recently gained attention for their ability to prevent and treat conditions related to obesity, no ideal pharmacological treatment has been found to treat obesity. Curcumin, one of the compounds extracted from turmeric, is a well-studied active herbal extract; however, its poor bioavailability and solubility in water, instability against temperature, light and pH fluctuations and rapid excretion limit its therapeutic application. Curcumin modification can, however, provide novel analogues with better performance and fewer disadvantages in comparison to the original structure. In the past few years, the positive effects of synthetic analogues of curcumin for the treatment of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disorders have been reported. In this review, we evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the reported artificial derivatives and assess their practicality as therapeutic agents.