Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is a polyphenol derived from the plant Curcuma longa, commonly called turmeric. Extensive research over the last 50 years has indicated this polyphenol can both prevent and treat cancer. The anticancer potential of curcumin stems from its ability to suppress proliferation of a wide variety of tumor cells, down-regulate transcription factors NF- κB, AP-1 and Egr-1; down-regulate the expression of COX2, LOX, NOS, MMP-9, uPA, TNF, chemokines, cell surface adhesion molecules and cyclin D1; down-regulate growth factor receptors (such as EGFR and HER2); and inhibit the activity of c-Jun N-terminal kinase, protein tyrosine kinases and protein serine/threonine kinases. In several systems, curcumin has been described as a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. Evidence has also been presented to suggest that curcumin can suppress tumor initiation, promotion and metastasis. Pharmacologically, curcumin has been found to be safe. Human clinical trials indicated no dose-limiting toxicity when administered at doses up to 10 g/day. All of these studies suggest that curcumin has enormous potential in the prevention and therapy of cancer. The current review describes in detail the data supporting these studies. Curcumin, derived from turmeric (vernacular name: Haldi), is a rhizome of the plant Curcuma longa. The medicinal use of this plant has been documented in Ayurveda (the Indian

Anticancer potential of curcumin: preclinical and clinical studies.

Turmeric, derived from the plant Curcuma longa, is a gold-colored spice commonly used in the Indian subcontinent, not only for health care but also for the preservation of food and as a yellow dye for textiles. Curcumin, which gives the yellow color to turmeric, was first isolated almost two centuries ago, and its structure as diferuloylmethane was determined in 1910. Since the time of Ayurveda (1900 Bc) numerous therapeutic activities have been assigned to turmeric for a wide variety of diseases and conditions, including those of the skin, pulmonary, and gastrointestinal systems, aches, pains, wounds, sprains, and liver disorders. Extensive research within the last half century has proven that most of these activities, once associated with turmeric, are due to curcumin. Curcumin has been shown to exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer activities and thus has a potential against various malignant diseases, diabetes, allergies, arthritis, Alzheimer's disease, and other chronic illnesses. These effects are mediated through the regulation of various transcription factors, growth factors, inflammatory cytokines, protein kinases, and other enzymes. Curcumin exhibits activities similar to recently discovered tumor necrosis factor blockers (e.g., HUMIRA, REMICADE, and ENBREL), a vascular endothelial cell growth factor blocker (e.g., AVASTIN), human epidermal growth factor receptor blockers (e.g., ERBITUX, ERLOTINIB, and GEFTINIB), and a HER2 blocker (e.g., HERCEPTIN). Considering the recent scientific bandwagon that multitargeted therapy is better than monotargeted therapy for most diseases, curcumin can be considered an ideal "Spice for Life".

Curcumin: The Indian solid gold

https://www.cghjournal.org/article/S1542-3565(06)00800-7/pdf

Curcumin Maintenance Therapy for Ulcerative Colitis: Randomized, Multicenter, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Pharmacologically safe compounds that can inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells have potential as anticancer agents. Curcumin, a diferuloylmethane, is a major active component of the food flavor turmeric (Curcuma longa) that has been shown to inhibit the proliferation of a wide variety of tumor cells. The apoptotic intermediates through which curcumin exhibits its cytotoxic effects against tumor cells are not known, and the participation of antiapoptotic proteins Bcl-2 or Bcl-xl in the curcumin-induced apoptosis pathway is not established. In the present report we investigated the effect of curcumin on the activation of the apoptotic pathway in human acute myelogenous leukemia HL-60 cells and in established stable cell lines expressing Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl. Curcumin inhibited the growth of HL-60 cells (neo) in a dose- and time-dependent manner, whereas Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl-transfected cells were relatively resistant. Curcumin activated caspase-8 and caspase-3 in HL-60 neo cells but not in Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl-transfected cells. Similarly, time-dependent poly(ADP)ribose polymerase (PARP) cleavage by curcumin was observed in neo cells but not in Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl-transfected cells. Curcumin treatment also induced BID cleavage and mitochondrial cytochrome c release in neo cells but not in Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl-transfected cells. In neo HL-60 cells, curcumin also downregulated the expression of cyclooxygenase-2. Because DN-FLICE blocked curcumin-induced apoptosis, caspase-8 must play a critical role. Overall, our results indicate that curcumin induces apoptosis through mitochondrial pathway involving caspase-8, BID cleavage, cytochrome c release, and caspase-3 activation. Our results also suggest that Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl are critical negative regulators of curcumin-induced apoptosis.

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Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) induces apoptosis through activation of caspase-8, BID cleavage and cytochrome c release: its suppression by ectopic expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl

Role of curcumin in cancer therapy

Curcumin inhibits the proliferation and cell cycle progression of human umbilical vein endothelial cell

The synergism effect of sodium tartrate and Zn2+ binary inhibitor system on the corrosion inhibition efficiency of mild steel in an potable water medium containing was analyzed by means of gravimetric and electrochemical spectroscopic measurements. The effect of weight loss method and immersion time on the corrosion behavior of mild steel has also been studied. The scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images showed that the roughness and the deep cracks of the metal surface are reduced significantly by the inhibitor system. Results indicated that the formulation acted as anodic inhibitor. Adsorption of used inhibitor lead to a decrease in the double layer capacitance and an increase in the charge transfer resistance and confirm protective layer by SEM, EDX, AFM and FT-IR. Simple and novel binary inhibitors approach was developed for generating superhydrophobic surface modification of mild steel. Interestingly, Water droplets falling on the leaves bead up and roll off, mild steel immersed in potable water in the presence of binary inhibitor system (sodium tartrate and Zn2+) was attempted to create superhydrophobic surfaces. However, the water contact angle in presence of binary inhibitor system was found to be 152°±4°, whereas in the case of mild steel, it was 55°±2°. A detailed description of the surface-modified superhydrophobic in potable water on mild steel is presented in this article. 

New developed for generating super hydrophobic surface modification on mild steel for corrosion protection

Gear is a reliable part of power transmission. This article presents a metallurgical failure analysis of a failed gear used in automobile engine coolant pumps. In gear, the soft microstructure of pearlite and ferrite is witnessed in metallographic analysis. Significant wear is perceived in gear teeth, and significant deformation is observed in the keyway. The crack initiated from the corner radius of the keyway and propagated towards to the root of the teeth, which is evidence of the failure due to fatigue. Recommendations are given to improve the fatigue strength of gear.

/pdf/fatigue-failure-analysis-of-a-gear-in-automobile-engine-ebmuy6sa.pdf

T. Deepa

Papers

Curcumin inhibits the proliferation and cell cycle progression of human umbilical vein endothelial cell

New developed for generating super hydrophobic surface modification on mild steel for corrosion protection

Fatigue Failure Analysis of a Gear in Automobile Engine Coolant Pump