JNK and NF-κB Cell Signaling Pathways in Cardiovascular Disease Present Potential Targets for Curcumin Therapy

Mary Richfield

Research output: Other contribution

Abstract

Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is a compound derived from the rhizomes of Curcumin longa that has been long used for medicinal purposes. Curcumin alleviates the pathology of cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, aneurysm, and cardiomyopathy. The mechanism of curcumin therapy is under active research. The NF-κB and JNK pathways are two that curcumin interacts with to block inflammatory processes, apoptosis, and fibrotic tissue remodeling to prevent the pathologies of cardiovascular disease. While curcumin has demonstrated powerful mediation of cardiovascular disease, its bioavailability in body tissues is limited due to the instability and hydrophobicity of its structure. Further work is underway to stabilize curcumin in vivo and enhance its biodistribution using plant compounds like piperine, nanoemulsions, and nanoparticles.

Original languageUndefined/Unknown
StatePublished - Apr 1 2022
Externally publishedYes

Publication series

NameSenior Honors Theses

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