Curcumin Derivatives in Medicinal Chemistry: Potential Applications in Cancer Treatment

Abstract

Curcumin, a naturally occurring compound found in the rhizome of Curcuma plants, particularly in turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), exhibits a broad range of biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. Curcumin has demonstrated effectiveness in inhibiting tumor growth, arousing interest for its potential in treating various cancers, such as breast, lung, prostate, and brain cancers. However, the clinical application of curcumin is limited due to its low chemical stability, poor water solubility, and low bioavailability. In response to these challenges, structural modifications of curcumin have been explored to improve its pharmacological properties, including enhanced anticancer selectivity index and bioavailability. This review highlights promising chemical modifications of curcumin that could lead to the development of more effective anticancer therapies. By functionalizing the parent curcumin molecule, researchers aim to create more stable and bioavailable compounds with enhanced therapeutic potential, making curcumin derivatives promising candidates for medical applications.

Keywords: cancer; curcumin; curcumin derivatives.

Figure 1

The biological activities of curcumin derivatives.

Figure 2

Selected curcumin derivatives and their activity against selected cancer diseases.

Figure 3

Chemical structures of curcumin derivatives 1–6.

Figure 4

Chemical structures of curcumin derivatives 7–14.

Figure 5

Chemical structures of curcumin derivatives: 15–16 (A), 17–32 (B), 33–35 (C).

Figure 6

Chemical structures of curcumin derivatives 36–42.

Figure 7

Chemical structures of curcumin derivatives 43–48.

Figure 8

Chemical structures of curcumin derivatives 49–57.

Figure 9

Chemical structures of curcumin derivatives 58–59.

Figure 10

Chemical structures of curcumin derivatives 60–72.

Figure 11

Chemical structures of curcumin derivatives 73–76.

Figure 12

Chemical structures of curcumin derivatives (groups 1–3, 77).

Figure 13

Chemical structure of curcumin derivatives 78–80.

Figure 14

Chemical structures of curcumin derivatives 81–88.

Figure 15

Chemical structures of curcumin derivatives 89–94.

Figure 16

Chemical structures of curcumin derivatives 95–99.

Figure 17

Chemical structures of curcumin derivatives 100–108.

Figure 18

Structural modifications of curcuminoids active against cancer.

Figure 19

Chemical structure of curcumin analog 109.

Figure 20

Chemical structures of compounds 110–113.