Curcumin (1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione) is a is an important consituitents present in Curcuma longa L. (turmeric) rhizome. It is also a lipophilic molecule that rapidly permeates cell membrane. Curcumin has been used as pharmacological traditional medicinal agent in Ayurvedic medicine for ∼6000 years. Being chemopreventive agent, curcumin has been found to modulate multiple molecular pathways through several mechanisms, e.g. induction of apoptosis, inhibition survival signals, and prevention from reactive oxidative species (ROS). Curcumin significantly caused reduction in lung cancer stem cells markers (CD133, ALDHA1, CD44, Nanog, and Oct4) and the number of CD133-positive cells as well as efficiently decreased the tumorsphere formation, inhibited proliferation, and induced apoptotic cell death. It also suppressed the activation of both Wnt/β-catenin and Sonic Hedgehog pathways. Curcumin has been also reported to diminish renal hypertrophy, reduce mesangial matrix expansion, and cause a lower level of albuminuria. It also inhibited the upregulated protein and mRNA expressions of collagen IV and fibronectin in the renal cortices as well as significantly reduced the mature interleukin-1β, cleaved caspase-1, and NLRP3 protein levels in the renal cortices of db/db mice as well as in HK-2 cells. It also ameliorated the defective insulin signalling pathway by upregulating insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1R, IRS-2, PI3K, p-PI3K, Akt and p-Akt protein expression while downregulating IR and IRS-1. Besides, curcumin lowered the heart MDA and DNA fragmentation levels, increased concentration of SOD, catalase, and gluathione levels, decreased the percentage of TUNEL-positive cells and γH2AX protein expression, while it lowered the percentage (%) of capspase 3 positive cells and improved the percentage of Bcl-2 positive cells. The current review article presents effective role of curcumin against cancer, diabetes, oxidative stress, cardiovascular, obesity, and aging.

姜黄素（1,7-双（4-羟基-3-甲氧基苯基）-1,6-庚二烯-3,5-二酮）是姜黄（姜黄）根茎中存在的重要成分。它也是一种亲脂性分子，可迅速渗透细胞膜。姜黄素在阿育吠陀医学中已被用作传统的药学药物，已有约6000年的历史。作为化学预防剂，姜黄素已通过多种机制调节多种分子途径，例如诱导细胞凋亡，抑制生存信号并预防反应性氧化物质（ROS）。姜黄素显着引起肺癌干细胞标志物（CD133，ALDHA1，CD44，Nanog和Oct4）的减少和CD133阳性细胞的数量，并有效地减少了肿瘤球的形成，抑制了增殖并诱导了凋亡的细胞死亡。它还抑制了Wnt /β-catenin和Sonic Hedgehog途径的激活。姜黄素也据报道可减少肾肥大，减少肾小球系膜基质扩张并引起较低水平的蛋白尿。它也抑制了肾皮质的上调蛋白和胶原蛋白IV的mRNA表达和纤连蛋白以及显著降低了成熟白细胞介素-1 β，切割db / db小鼠肾皮质以及HK-2细胞中的caspase-1和NLRP3蛋白水平。它还通过上调胰岛素样生长因子（IGF）-1R，IRS-2，PI3K，p-PI3K，Akt和p-Akt蛋白表达，同时下调IR和IRS-1，从而改善了胰岛素信号通路的缺陷。此外，姜黄素可降低心脏MDA和DNA片段水平，增加SOD，过氧化氢酶和青硫酮的浓度，降低TUNEL阳性细胞百分比和γH2AX蛋白表达，同时降低capspase 3阳性细胞百分比（％）和改善了Bcl-2阳性细胞的百分比。当前的评论文章介绍了姜黄素对癌症，糖尿病，氧化应激，心血管疾病，肥胖和衰老的有效作用。