Effects of curcumin (diferuloylmethane) on nuclear factor kappaB signaling in interleukin-1beta-stimulated chondrocytes

Schulze-Tanzil G, Mobasheri A, Sendzik J, John T, Shakibaei M · Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

Curcumin blocked IL-1beta-driven MMP-3 upregulation and nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB, and reversed the IL-1beta-induced fall in type II collagen — it protected matrix synthesis, not only suppressed catabolism.

Population

Human articular chondrocytes stimulated with IL-1beta

Intervention

Curcumin 50 micromolar for 12-48 hours

Comparator

IL-1beta alone

Limitations

50 micromolar is orders of magnitude above the plasma concentrations any oral formulation achieves in humans (pmid-40487425 measured unconjugated curcumin under 2 nanomolar in most samples).