Curcumin

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ONC-002189",
  "term": "Curcumin",
  "field": "Oncology and biomedicine",
  "definitions": [
    "A natural substance that comes from the underground stem of an East Indian plant called turmeric, or Curcuma longa, and gives turmeric its yellow color. The turmeric plant has been used for many years in traditional Asian medicine to treat certain conditions. Curcumin, which is found in turmeric, may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in the body. It is being studied in the prevention and treatment of some types of cancer.",
    "A phytopolylphenol pigment isolated from the plant Curcuma longa, commonly known as turmeric, with a variety of pharmacologic properties. Curcumin blocks the formation of reactive-oxygen species, possesses anti-inflammatory properties as a result of inhibition of cyclooxygenases (COX) and other enzymes involved in inflammation; and disrupts cell signal transduction by various mechanisms including inhibition of protein kinase C. These effects may play a role in the agent's observed antineoplastic properties, which include inhibition of tumor cell proliferation and suppression of chemically induced carcinogenesis and tumor growth in animal models of cancer."
  ],
  "abbreviation": "CU",
  "synonyms": [
    "C.I. Natural Yellow 3",
    "Diferuloylmethane",
    "Turmeric Yellow"
  ],
  "references": [
    "NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms",
    "National Cancer Institute Thesaurus"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/oncology/curcumin/"
}