Title:A Unifying Perspective in Blunting the Limited Oral Bioavailability of Curcumin: A
Succinct Look
Volume: 23
Issue: 11
Author(s): Pitchai Balakumar*, Taha Alqahtani, Ali Alqahtani, R. Sulochana Lakshmiraj, Gurfateh Singh, Mani Rupeshkumar, A. Thangathirupathi and Karupiah Sundram
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmacology, Pannai College of Pharmacy, (Affiliated to The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University), Dindigul
624005, Tamil Nadu, India
Keywords:
Turmeric, curcumin, piperine, bioavailability, mechanistic insights, therapeutic rationale.
Abstract:
Background: Curcumin is a polyphenolic compound derived from rhizomes of Curcuma longa, the golden
spice. Curcumin has drawn much attention in recent years of biomedical research owing to its wide variety of
biologic and pharmacologic actions. It exerts antiproliferative, antifibrogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidative
effects, among various imperative pharmacologic actions. In spite of its well-documented efficacies against numerous
disease conditions, the limited systemic bioavailability of curcumin is a continuing concern. Perhaps, the poor
bioavailability of curcumin may have curtailed its significant development from kitchen to clinic as a potential therapeutic
agent. Subsequently, there have been a considerable number of studies over decades researching the scientific
basis of curcumin’s reduced bioavailability and eventually improvement of its bioavailability employing a variety of
therapeutic approaches, for instance, in combination with piperine, the bio-active constituent of black pepper. Piperine
has remarkable potential to modulate the functional activity of metabolic enzymes and drug transporters, and thus
there has been a great interest in the therapeutic application of this widely used spice as alternative medicine and
bioavailability enhancer. Growing body of evidence supports the synergistic potential of curcumin against numerous
pathologic conditions when administered with piperine.
Conclusion: In light of current challenges, the major concern pertaining to poor systemic bioavailability of curcumin,
its improvement, especially in combination with piperine, and the necessity of additional research in this setting
are together described in this review. Besides, the recent advances in the potential therapeutic rationale and efficacy
of curcumin-piperine combination, a promising duo, against various pathologic conditions are delineated.