Therapeutic effects of curcumin in inflammatory and immune-mediated diseases: A nature-made jack-of-all-trades?

J Cell Physiol. 2018 Feb;233(2):830-848. doi: 10.1002/jcp.25778. Epub 2017 Mar 31.

Abstract

Curcumin is a dietary polyphenol from turmeric with numerous pharmacological activities. Novel animal and human studies indicate that curcumin can affect different immune cells, such as various T lymphocyte subsets, macrophages, dendritic cells, B lymphocytes and natural killer cells, which results in decreasing severity of various diseases with immunological etiology. The present review provides a comprehensive overview of the effects of curcumin on different immune cells and immune system-related diseases.

Keywords: autoimmune disease; curcumin; immune system; inflammation.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Curcumin / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Immune System Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Immune System Diseases / immunology
  • Immune System Diseases / metabolism
  • Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use*
  • Inflammation / drug therapy*
  • Inflammation / immunology
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Inflammation Mediators / immunology
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects

Substances

  • Immunologic Factors
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Curcumin