Synthesis of new curcumin derivatives and study of their medicinal properties

Turmeric is a member of ginger family with the scientific name of Longa Curcuma. The most important components of turmeric are yellow pigments from the category of curcuminose. These compounds form about 3 to 5 percent of turmeric, and its main components are curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin. Curcumin (Fig. 1) has many biological properties, including antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor properties.1-2 Curcumin also has the great therapeutic potential against all types of cancers.3 Despite the extremely high therapeutic benefits of curcumin, the sustainability and bioavailability of this compound is very low. In recent years, many research groups have focused on improvement of biocompatibility and effectiveness of curcumin.4 In this study, using hydrophilic polymer polyglycerol, new compounds of curcumin were synthesized, and then evaluated in vitro biological and medicinal properties and compared with primary curcumin.

Keywords:

Curcumin , Polyglycerol , Antibacterial , Antioxidant