curcumin

**Curcumin** is a plant-derived polyphenolic diarylheptanoid and the principal curcuminoid found in turmeric, the rhizome of *Curcuma longa*. It is a chemically defined small molecule rather than turmeric powder or a mixed curcuminoid extract. Curcumin has been widely studied as an oral nutraceutical and investigational therapeutic for metabolic disorders, inflammatory diseases, fatty liver disease, depression, cancer supportive care, and cancer cachexia. It has low intrinsic oral bioavailability because of limited absorption and rapid metabolism and elimination; many clinical studies therefore use enhanced-bioavailability formulations, which are distinct products from unformulated curcumin. ([pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Curcumin)) Its pharmacology is pleiotropic, with reported suppression of inflammatory signaling including NF-kappa B pathways and modulation of oxidative-stress responses, but no single clinically validated primary molecular target has been established. Curcumin is sold predominantly as a dietary supplement and is not an approved pharmaceutical treatment for the diseases listed here. ([nccih.nih.gov](https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/turmeric?here%E2%80%99s_what_to_expect=))

Brand names

Theracurmin HP

Other names

diferuloylmethanecurcumin I