Advanced strategies for enhancing the neuroprotective potential of curcumin: delivery systems and mechanistic insights in neurodegenerative disorders.

Background: Curcumin, a polyphenolic compound derived from Curcuma longa, exhibits significant neuroprotective potential due to its diverse pharmacological properties.

Objective: This review explores curcumin's role in modulating key pathological mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's diseases, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Huntington's Disease and Prion Disease.

Methods: A comprehensive analysis of curcumin's molecular interactions, including its effects on amyloid-beta (Aβ) aggregation, tau hyperphosphorylation, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and metal-induced neurotoxicity, was conducted. Additionally, strategies to overcome its low bioavailability and blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability were evaluated.

Results: Curcumin inhibits Aβ aggregation and promotes disaggregation, reducing amyloid plaque formation in Alzheimer's disease. It modulates glial cell activity, attenuating neuroinflammation and fostering a neuroprotective environment. By interacting with tau proteins, curcumin prevents hyperphosphorylation and neurofibrillary tangle formation. As a potent antioxidant, it scavenges reactive oxygen species, mitigating oxidative stress-related neuronal damage. Its metal-chelating properties further diminish neurotoxicity by sequestering iron and copper ions. Despite its limited bioavailability and BBB permeability, curcumin's therapeutic efficacy can be enhanced using nanocarriers such as nanoparticles, liposomes, and micelles, which improve solubility, stability, and brain penetration.

Conclusion: Curcumin's multifaceted neuroprotective mechanisms make it a promising candidate for preventing or slowing neurodegenerative disease progression. Advanced drug delivery systems hold potential for overcoming its pharmacokinetic limitations, paving the way for future clinical applications.