NF-κB pathway as a molecular target for curcumin in diabetes mellitus
treatment: Focusing on oxidative stress and inflammation
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus (DM), a chronic metabolic disorder associated with
hyperglycemia and other complications, is one of the five priority non
communicable diseases of global interest with unprecedented rise in
developing countries. Whereas, the current treatment with insulin and
oral hypoglycemic agents is aimed at managing the hyperglycemia and
associated complications, there is need to explore other critical
pathways in the pathogenesis of DM that can act as potential drug
targets with better treatment outcomes. This study comprehensively
explains the role of cellular and molecular elements, like
hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, and
Nuclear Factor Kappa B (NF-κB)’s involvement in inflammation and immune
regulation, in the onset of DM. With bioactive compounds from natural
products gaining popularity as novel drug molecules due to their diverse
pharmacological actions, the study also extensively explores the
prospective therapeutic benefits of curcumin (CUR), a bioactive compound
known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hypoglycemic
properties, in addressing diabetic complications, predominantly via the
modulation of the NF-κB pathway. The findings reveal that CUR
administration effectively lowered blood glucose elevation, reinstated
diminished serum insulin levels, and enhanced body weight in
Streptozotocin -induced diabetic rats. CUR exerts its beneficial effects
in management of diabetic complications through regulation of signaling
pathways, such as CaMKII, PPAR-γ, NF-κB, and TGF-β1. Moreover, CUR
reversed the heightened expression of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α,
IL-1β, IL-6) and chemokines like MCP-1 in diabetic specimens,
vindicating its anti-inflammatory potency in counteracting
hyperglycemia-induced alterations. CUR diminishes oxidative stress,
avert structural kidney damage linked to diabetic nephropathy, and
suppress NF-κB activity. Furthermore, CUR exhibited a protective effect
against diabetic cardiomyopathy, lung injury, and diabetic
gastroparesis. Conclusively, the study posits that CUR could potentially
offer therapeutic benefits in relieving diabetic complications through
its influence on the NF-κB pathway.