REVIEW   

Minerva Biotechnology and Biomolecular Research 2022 December;34(4):153-69

DOI: 10.23736/S2724-542X.22.02946-7

Copyright © 2022 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Neuroprotective effect of curcumin and curcumin-integrated nanocarriers in stroke: from mechanisms to therapeutic opportunities

Javad SHARIFI-RAD ¹, Zainab M. ALMARHOON ², Charles O. ADETUNJI ³, Olugbenga SAMUEL MICHAEL ⁴, Deepak CHANDRAN ⁵, Radha RADHA ⁶, Niharika SHARMA ⁶, Manoj KUMAR ⁷, Daniela CALINA ⁸ ✉

¹ Faculty of Medicine, University of Azuay, Cuenca, Ecuador; ² Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; ³ Applied Microbiology, Biotechnology and Nanotechnology Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Edo University Iyamho, Auchi, Nigeria; ⁴ Unit of Cardiometabolic Research, Department of Physiology, College of Health Sciences, Bowen University, Iwo, Nigeria; ⁵ Department of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Amrita School of Agricultural Sciences, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University, Coimbatore, India; ⁶ School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, Solan, India; ⁷ Chemical and Biochemical Processing Division, Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology (ICAR), Mumbai, India; ⁸ Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Craiova, Romania

Stroke remains one of the world’s leading causes of death and disability. Curcumin, a bioactive component of turmeric derived from Curcuma longa Linn’s rhizomes, has a variety of pharmacological activities. Native curcumin’s therapeutic use against stroke has been limited by its low solubility, poor bioavailability, rapid metabolism, physicochemical instability, and poor pharmacokinetics. By implementing a more effective delivery system, these difficulties can be addressed. Encapsulating or putting curcumin into nanoformulations has been used to increase its pharmacokinetics, systemic bioavailability, and biological activity. A vast number of nanoformulations have been approved for therapeutic use following the conclusion of preclinical and human clinical trials. In light of this, the current updated review discusses the evidence, current status and molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic applications of curcumin and nanocurcumin formulations against stroke.

KEY WORDS: Stroke; Curcumin; Nanotechnology; Neuroprotection; Blood-Brain Barrier; Oxidative stress