US EPA

1559275 

Journal Article 

Curcumin: A Potential Neuroprotective Agent in Parkinson's Disease 

Mythri, RB; Bharath, MMS 

2012 

Yes 

Current Pharmaceutical Design
ISSN: 1381-6128
EISSN: 1873-4286 

18 

1 

91-99 

22211691 

WOS:000300284200012 

Parkinson's disease (PD) is an age-associated
neurodegenerative disease clinically characterized as a movement disorder. The motor symptoms in
PD arise due to selective degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of the
ventral midbrain thereby depleting the dopamine levels in the striatum. Most of the current
pharmacotherapeutic approaches in PD are aimed at replenishing the striatal dopamine. Although
these drugs provide symptomatic relief during early PD, many patients develop motor complications
with long-term treatment. Further, PD medications do not effectively tackle tremor, postural
instability and cognitive deficits. Most importantly, most of these drugs do not exhibit
neuroprotective effects in patients. Consequently, novel therapies involving natural antioxidants
and plant products/molecules with neuroprotective properties are being exploited for adjunctive
therapy. Curcumin is a polyphenol and an active component of turmeric (Curcuma longa), a dietary
spice used in Indian cuisine and medicine. Curcumin exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and
anti-cancer properties, crosses the blood-brain barrier and is neuroprotective in neurological
disorders. Several studies in different experimental models of PD strongly support the clinical
application of curcumin in PD. The current review explores the therapeutic potential of curcumin
in PD. 

Curcumin; Parkinson's disease; neuroprotection; polyphenols; molecular mechanisms; therapeutics