# The Bright Side of Curcumin: A Narrative Review of Its Therapeutic Potential in Cancer Management

## TL;DR

This review explores curcumin's potential in cancer treatment, highlighting its benefits and challenges like poor bioavailability and new delivery methods to improve its effectiveness.

## Contribution

The paper emphasizes novel delivery systems and photodynamic therapy to enhance curcumin's therapeutic efficacy in cancer.

## Key findings

- Curcumin-loaded nanoparticles improve cellular uptake and cytotoxicity in cancer models.
- Photodynamic therapy enhances curcumin's anticancer effects when combined with light exposure.
- Curcumin's poor bioavailability limits clinical use but can be mitigated with modern delivery systems.

## Abstract

This review comprehensively examines curcumin’s therapeutic potential in cancer treatment. It addresses the limitations of curcumin therapy due to its low bioavailability and potential side effects. It discusses how modern approaches can overcome these limitations to support its consistent and effective use in cancer therapy. Indeed, the role of curcumin in photodegradation and photodynamic therapy is emphasized through its use in combination with phototherapy. In addition, improved therapeutic efficacy, increased cellular uptake, and enhanced cytotoxicity have been demonstrated in various cancer models using curcumin-loaded nanoparticle drug delivery. Overall, the present review highlights the promising impact of curcumin in cancer treatment and the importance of optimizing its therapeutic efficacy, considering potential interactions with drugs used to manage side effects and collateral effects of cancer treatment.

Curcumin, a polyphenolic compound derived from Curcuma longa, exhibits significant therapeutic potential in cancer management. This review explores curcumin’s mechanisms of action, the challenges related to its bioavailability, and its enhancement through modern technology and approaches. Curcumin demonstrates strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, contributing to its ability to neutralize free radicals and inhibit inflammatory mediators. Its anticancer effects are mediated by inducing apoptosis, inhibiting cell proliferation, and interfering with tumor growth pathways in various colon, pancreatic, and breast cancers. However, its clinical application is limited by its poor bioavailability due to its rapid metabolism and low absorption. Novel delivery systems, such as curcumin-loaded hydrogels and nanoparticles, have shown promise in improving curcumin bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy. Additionally, photodynamic therapy has emerged as a complementary approach, where light exposure enhances curcumin’s anticancer effects by modulating molecular pathways crucial for tumor cell growth and survival. Studies highlight that combining low concentrations of curcumin with visible light irradiation significantly boosts its antitumor efficacy compared to curcumin alone. The interaction of curcumin with cytochromes or drug transporters may play a crucial role in altering the pharmacokinetics of conventional medications, which necessitates careful consideration in clinical settings. Future research should focus on optimizing delivery mechanisms and understanding curcumin’s pharmacokinetics to fully harness its therapeutic potential in cancer treatment.