Curcumin: A Potent Protectant against Esophageal and Gastric Disorders

Abstract

Turmeric obtained from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa has been used in the prevention and treatment of many diseases since the ancient times. Curcumin is the principal polyphenol isolated from turmeric, which exhibits anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiapoptotic, antitumor, and antimetastatic activities. The existing evidence indicates that curcumin can exert a wide range of beneficial pleiotropic properties in the gastrointestinal tract, such as protection against reflux esophagitis, Barrett's esophagus, and gastric mucosal damage induced by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and necrotizing agents. The role of curcumin as an adjuvant in the treatment of a Helicobacter pylori infection in experimental animals and humans has recently been proposed. The evidence that this turmeric derivative inhibits the invasion and proliferation of gastric cancer cells is encouraging and warrants further experimental and clinical studies with newer formulations to support the inclusion of curcumin in cancer therapy regimens. This review was designed to analyze the existing data from in vitro and in vivo animal and human studies in order to highlight the mechanisms of therapeutic efficacy of curcumin in the protection and ulcer healing of the upper gastrointestinal tract, with a major focus on addressing the protection of the esophagus and stomach by this emerging compound.

Keywords: Helicobacter pylori; curcumin; gastric cancer; gastric ulcer; gastroprotection; reflux esophagitis.

Figure 1

A conclusive summary of the pleiotropic action of curcumin in the body system: Curcumin exhibits anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiapoptotic, antitumor, and antimetastatic activities and suppresses multiple signalling pathways responsible for inflammation, apoptosis, and cellular death. Curcumin improves the growth of neurons and the functions of the brain in addition to the downregulation of reactive oxygen species, oxidative stress, and proinflammatory factors (NF-κB and cytokines).

Figure 2

The complex summary of the beneficial effect of treatment with curcumin in esophageal and gastric protection: It involves the amelioration of damage induced by reflux esophagitis and incidence of Barrett’s esophagus, attenuation of inflammation, prevention of gastric damage formation, the anti-Helicobacter pylori activity, and an improvement of communication between gut function and the brain (gut–brain axis) by this turmeric derivative to facilitate local microvascular vasodilation and an increase in organ blood flow, gastroprotection, and ulcer healing.