Curcumin and Its Derivatives as Theranostic Agents in Alzheimer's Disease: The Implication of Nanotechnology

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences 2020-12, Vol.22 (1), p.196
• Main Authors: Shabbir, Umair, Rubab, Momna, Tyagi, Akanksha, Oh, Deog-Hwan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Alzheimer Disease - diagnosis; Alzheimer Disease - drug therapy; Alzheimer Disease - metabolism; Alzheimer's disease; Amyloid beta-Peptides - metabolism; Animal cognition; Animals; Bioactive compounds; Bioavailability; Biological Availability; Biological properties; Blood-brain barrier; Blood-Brain Barrier - metabolism; Chemical compounds; Curcumin; Curcumin - analogs & derivatives; Curcumin - metabolism; Curcumin - pharmacology; Dementia; Dementia disorders; diagnosis; Diagnostic systems; Drug Delivery Systems - methods; Humans; Mental disorders; Metabolism; Metabolites; Nanoparticles; Nanostructures - chemistry; Nanostructures - therapeutic use; Nanotechnology; Nanotechnology - methods; neurodegenerative disorder; Oxidative stress; Pharmacology; Proteins; Public health; Review; tau Proteins - metabolism; therapeutic
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms22010196

Curcumin is a polyphenolic natural compound with diverse and attractive biological properties, which may prevent or ameliorate pathological processes underlying age-related cognitive decline, Alzheimer's disease (AD), dementia, or mode disorders. AD is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder that is known as one of the rapidly growing diseases, especially in the elderly population. Moreover, being the eminent cause of dementia, posing problems for families, societies as well a severe burden on the economy. There are no effective drugs to cure AD. Although curcumin and its derivatives have shown properties that can be considered useful in inhibiting the hallmarks of AD, however, they have low bioavailability. Furthermore, to combat diagnostic and therapeutic limitations, various nanoformulations have also been recognized as theranostic agents that can also enhance the pharmacokinetic properties of curcumin and other bioactive compounds. Nanocarriers have shown beneficial properties to deliver curcumin and other nutritional compounds against the blood-brain barrier to efficiently distribute them in the brain. This review spotlights the role and effectiveness of curcumin and its derivatives in AD. Besides, the gut metabolism of curcumin and the effects of nanoparticles and their possible activity as diagnostic and therapeutic agents in AD also discussed.