Curcumin (turmeric) and its evolving role in skin health
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Turmeric is a spice that has been used for centuries by the Middle East and Asian cultures. The primary active constituent of turmeric is derived from the rhizome of the plant Curcuma longa L from the genus Zingiberaceae (Ginger family). This tropical plant is widely cultivated in the South Asia region, especially India, where it has been used for a wide variety of diseases and conditions. Its uses range from being a condiment in the famous curry sauce, a coloring agent, as well as to cure many diseases and conditions in traditional medicine. Extensive research within the last century with this tropical root have demonstrated that its medical powers are linked to curcumin, the main and most active constituent of the root. Curcumin effects are mediated through the regulation of various transcription factors, growth factors, inflammatory cytokines, and other enzymes. It has an unprecedented number of molecular targets giving it a unique power to control many molecular pathways that could lead to diseases. Its effects on these pathways are particularly well documented in the scientific literature. These targets include nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-κB) and its associated protein kinases, AP-1, lipooxigenases, plasminogen activator, cyclooxygenase-2, tumor growth factor beta (TGF-β) and many others. It is by blocking or promoting these molecular targets that curcumin is being studied as a potential anticarcinogenic, anti-proliferative, anti-inflammatory and chemo preventive agent. In dermatology, curcumin has been utilized in diseases such as: skin cancers, psoriasis, and acne, wound healing and keloids. By affecting different but related pathways, curcumin has shown great potential not only for the treatment of skin diseases but also for their prevention. The main objective for this chapter is to describe the different molecular pathways targeted by curcumin and explain, by reviewing the scientific literature, how these are potential remedies for skin diseases.