Research Progresses on Curcumin Derivatives and Their Biological Functions
Curcumin is a natural β-diketone polyphenolic compound extracted from the rhizome of Curcuma longa and other plants.Due to the disadvantages of poor solubility in water,unstable chemical properties and low bioavailability,therefore,a variety of curcumin derivatives or analogues have been designed or synthesized to optimize the beneficial properties of curcumin.Extensive experimental and clinical research have proven that curcumin and its derivatives present many biochemical characteristics,such as anti-virus,anti-tumor,anti-depression,nerve protection and so on,so they have been considered one of the promising drugs.In this review,we have summarized the structural features of some available curcumin derivatives and their classification,and subsequently elucidated the molecular mechanisms of curcumin in antioxida-tion and anti-tumor.It aims to provides a certain perspective for further research on the structure and bio-chemical functions of curcumin derivatives.