Curcumin: an orally bioavailable blocker of <scp>TNF</scp> and other pro‐inflammatory biomarkers

<jats:sec><jats:label /><jats:p><jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">TNFs</jats:styled-content> are major mediators of inflammation and inflammation‐related diseases, hence, the <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">U</jats:styled-content>nited <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">S</jats:styled-content>tates <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">F</jats:styled-content>ood and <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">D</jats:styled-content>rug <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">A</jats:styled-content>dministration (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">FDA</jats:styled-content>) has approved the use of blockers of the cytokine, <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">TNF</jats:styled-content>‐α, for the treatment of osteoarthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis and ankylosis. These drugs include the chimeric <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">TNF</jats:styled-content> antibody (infliximab), humanized <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">TNF</jats:styled-content>‐α antibody (Humira) and soluble <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">TNF</jats:styled-content> receptor‐<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">II</jats:styled-content> (Enbrel) and are associated with a total cumulative market value of more than $20 billion a year. As well as being expensive ($15 000–20 000 per person per year), these drugs have to be injected and have enough adverse effects to be given a black label warning by the <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">FDA</jats:styled-content>. In the current report, we describe an alternative, curcumin (diferuloylmethane), a component of turmeric (<jats:italic><jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">C</jats:styled-content>urcuma longa</jats:italic>) that is very inexpensive, orally bioavailable and highly safe in humans, yet can block <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">TNF</jats:styled-content>‐α action and production in <jats:italic>in vitro</jats:italic> models, in animal models and in humans. In addition, we provide evidence for curcumin's activities against all of the diseases for which <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">TNF</jats:styled-content> blockers are currently being used. Mechanisms by which curcumin inhibits the production and the cell signalling pathways activated by this cytokine are also discussed. With health‐care costs and safety being major issues today, this golden spice may help provide the solution.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Linked Articles</jats:title><jats:p>This article is part of a themed section on Emerging Therapeutic Aspects in Oncology. To view the other articles in this section visit <jats:ext-link xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" ext-link-type="doi" xlink:href="10.1111/bph.2013.169.issue-8">http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2013.169.issue‐8</jats:ext-link></jats:p></jats:sec>