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World J Exp Med. Mar 20, 2025; 15(1): 100275
Published online Mar 20, 2025. doi: 10.5493/wjem.v15.i1.100275
Impact of curcumin on gut microbiome
Sangeetha Balaji, Naveen Jeyaraman, Madhan Jeyaraman, Swaminathan Ramasubramanian, Sathish Muthu, Gabriel Silva Santos, Lucas Furtado da Fonseca, José Fábio Lana
Sangeetha Balaji, Swaminathan Ramasubramanian, Department of General Medicine, Government Medical College, Omandurar Government Estate, Chennai 600002, Tamil Nadu, India
Naveen Jeyaraman, Madhan Jeyaraman, Department of Orthopaedics, ACS Medical College and Hospital, Dr MGR Educational and Research Institute, Chennai 600077, Tamil Nadu, India
Naveen Jeyaraman, Madhan Jeyaraman, Sathish Muthu, Department of Orthopaedics, Orthopaedic Research Group, Coimbatore 641045, Tamil Nadu, India
Madhan Jeyaraman, Gabriel Silva Santos, Lucas Furtado da Fonseca, José Fábio Lana, Department of Orthopaedics, Brazilian Institute of Regenerative Medicine, Indaiatuba 13334-170, São Paulo, Brazil
Sathish Muthu, Department of Orthopaedics, Government Medical College and Hospital, Karur 639004, Tamil Nadu, India
Sathish Muthu, Department of Biotechnology, Karpagam Academy of Higher Education, Coimbatore 641021, Tamil Nadu, India
Co-first authors: Sangeetha Balaji and Naveen Jeyaraman.
Author contributions: Jeyaraman M and Jeyaraman N contributed to conceptualization; Ramasubramanian S contributed to acquiring clinical data and performing the data analysis; Balaji S and Ramasubramanian S contributed to manuscript writing; Jeyaraman M, Santos GS, da Fonseca LF and Lana JF helped in manuscript revision; Muthu S contributed to image acquisition; Jeyaraman M contributed to proofreading; Jeyaraman M and Lana JF contributed to administration. All authors have agreed to the final version to be published and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare no conflict of interest in publishing the manuscript.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Madhan Jeyaraman, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, ACS Medical College and Hospital, Dr MGR Educational and Research Institute, Velappanchavadi, Chennai 600077, Tamil Nadu, India. madhanjeyaraman@gmail.com
Received: August 12, 2024
Revised: October 12, 2024
Accepted: November 6, 2024
Published online: March 20, 2025
Processing time: 135 Days and 21.9 Hours
Abstract

The intricate interplay between natural compounds like curcumin and the gut microbiome has gained significant attention in recent years due to their potential therapeutic implications in various health conditions. Curcumin, a polyphenolic compound derived from turmeric, exhibits diverse pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer effects. Understanding how curcumin modulates gut microbiota composition and function is crucial for elucidating its therapeutic mechanisms. This review examines the current literature on the interactions between curcumin and the gut microbiome. A systematic search of relevant databases was conducted to identify studies investigating the effects of curcumin on gut microbial diversity and abundance. Key findings from studies exploring curcumin's efficacy in neurological disorders, gastrointestinal diseases, and metabolic dysfunction are synthesized and discussed. Studies have demonstrated that curcumin supplementation can modulate gut microbiota composition and function, leading to beneficial effects on gut health and homeostasis. Mechanisms underlying curcumin's therapeutic effects include immune modulation, neuroprotection, and inflammation regulation. However, challenges such as poor bioavailability and safety concerns remain significant hurdles to overcome. The interactions between curcumin and the gut microbiome hold promise for therapeutic interventions in a diverse range of health conditions. Further research is needed to optimize curcumin formulations, improve bioavailability, and address safety concerns.

Keywords: Gut microbiome; Curcumin; Neuroprotection; Bioavailability

Core Tip: Curcumin, derived from turmeric, interacts with the gut microbiome and has a significant impact on health. Studies have revealed that curcumin modulated gut microbial composition, immune responses, and inflammation. Challenges such as bioavailability persist, but curcumin holds promise for diverse therapeutic applications.