Abstract
• Curcumin has well-known anti-inflammatory actions.
• NLRP3 inflammasome is a key factor in inflamamtion induction.
• Curcumin can suppress inflammation via inhibiting inflammasome activity.
• Therapeutic effects of curcumin in inflammatory diseases through inflammasome suppression are reviewed here
Curcumin is the major bioactive polyphenolic ingredient of turmeric. Increasing evidence indicates that the health benefits of curcumin are mediated through its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Inflammasomes are essential components of inflammatory pathways that activate caspase-1 leading to pyroptosis and stimulate maturation and secretion of the proinflammatory cytokines, interleukin‐1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) through nuclear factor kappa-B (NF‐κB) signaling. The current review outlines the mechanisms of curcumin as an inflammasome modulator in inflammatory-related diseases. Regulation of NF‐κB signaling and interleukins secretion is the most prominent functional mechanism of curcumin in modulating inflammasomes. More importantly, curcumin can exert its anti-inflammatory role mainly through the down-regulation of NLRP3 inflammasomes. Given the fundamental role of inflammation in diseases, such as arthritis, cancer and cardiorenal disease, curcumin may have a pivotal therapeutic role through its ability to produce beneficial anti-inflammatory effects.