Curcumin nanoparticles manifest promise in treatment of neurodegenerative diseases

A review in Foods by Italian researchers explores curcumin and curcumin-containing nanoparticles' neuroprotective potential in neurodegenerative disorders.

Background:

Curcumin, a polyphenol found in Curcuma longa, possesses diverse properties including anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects, making it promising for conditions like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

Challenges:

Curcumin's low solubility, stability, and bioavailability hinder its clinical use. To address this, biomimetic nanomedicines and various carriers like liposomes are developed. Functionalizing nanoparticles with brain-specific ligands aids targeted delivery.

Curcumin in Neurodegenerative Diseases:

In Parkinson's, curcumin nanoformulations reduce oxidative stress and cell death. In Alzheimer's, they mitigate inflammation and protein aggregation, improving memory. In Huntington's, they enhance mitochondrial function and memory. In amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and multiple sclerosis (MS), curcumin nanoparticles improve neural protection and myelin integrity. Additionally, curcumin inhibits prion disease progression by impeding abnormal protein formation.