review · Frontiers in Immunology
Curcumin is a lipophilic, naturally occurring polyphenol derived from turmeric that exhibits multiple therapeutic properties demonstrated in laboratory and animal studies. Documented biological activities include anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, pain-relieving, antimicrobial, antiparasitic, antimalarial, and wound-healing actions. Despite these therapeutic capabilities, clinical use is hindered by poor bioavailability in humans, caused by low intestinal absorption, swift metabolism, and rapid elimination from the body. To overcome these constraints, various delivery formulations have been created. Furthermore, several processing techniques are used for compound isolation, including pressurised fluid, Soxhlet, microwave, and enzyme-assisted extractions, supported by specific analytical methods to quantify curcumin across diverse matrices. While current research confirms these chemical and pharmacological traits, ongoing research remains necessary to address gaps concerning safety profiles, exact mechanisms of action, and clinical efficacy in treating diseases in humans and animals.
Curcumin offers broad health and therapeutic potential, but its low bioavailability prevents patients from gaining full medicinal benefits from standard consumption. Understanding extraction methods, formulation strategies, and analytical techniques enables researchers to make natural compounds more stable and clinically effective. Addressing remaining knowledge gaps around safety and efficacy is crucial for turning this common natural molecule into reliable treatments for human and animal diseases.
This work is relevant to pharmaceutical and nutraceutical developers formulating bioactive compounds with poor natural absorption. The primary commercial application focuses on advanced drug delivery formulations that enhance bioavailability for human and veterinary medicine. Given that extraction and formulation techniques exist but mechanisms of action, safety, and clinical efficacy require further validation, technologies in this domain remain primarily at the applied research and early formulation stage rather than near-market deployment.
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Curcumin (1,7-bis-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-hepta-1,6-diene-3,5-dione) is a naturally occurring polyphenol molecule. It is lipophilic and has demonstrated <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> therapeutic effects through multiple pathways. Extensive studies on its pharmacological properties have shown its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antinociceptive, antimicrobial, antiparasitic, antimalarial, and wound-healing properties. However, its limited bioavailability in humans due to poor intestinal absorption, rapid metabolism, and rapid systemic elimination remains a significant challenge. Various curcumin formulations have been developed to address this limitation. This article reviews current studies on the biological and pharmacological properties of curcumin. It also examines methods for curcumin isolation, including pressurized fluid extraction, Soxhlet extraction, enzyme-assisted extraction, and microwave extraction. Furthermore, analytical methods for the identification and quantification of curcumin in diverse matrices, as well as procedures for formulating curcumin, will also be addressed. This review consolidates recent studies on curcumin's chemical, bioactive, and pharmacological properties. It also highlights significant knowledge gaps, indicating the need for future research to elucidate curcumin's mechanism of action, safety, efficacy, and therapeutic potential for treating various human and animal diseases.
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DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1603018
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