<div>Background: Cancer is a multifactorial disease characterized by altered gene expression and one of the most leading causes of death in the world. Curcumin obtained from Curcuma longa known to exhibit anti-inflammatory, antioxidant as well as anti-cancer properties. The present study was undertaken to know different targets through which curcumin acts to elicit the antitumor effect. 
 
Methods: In this present study in silico interaction of curcumin with different cancer targets were analyzed by molecular docking using Biovia Discovery studio 4.0. Proteins were selected based on their role in cancer pathways which include transcription factor Nf-kB p50 and p65 subunit, Matrix metalloproteinase involved in invasion and metastasis, cell cycle regulator cyclin D and apoptotic factor Bax.&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
Result: Curcumin found to interact with all the selected proteins with high dock score of 125.428, 94.778, 114.5,111.731,98.6844 with Nf-kB p50, p65 subunits, MMP9, Cyclin D1 and Bax proteins, respectively. Amino acid residues to which curcumin interact, number of hydrogen bonds and hydrogen bond length also predicted. RMSD (Root Mean Square Deviation) value was found to be one in all the interactions. Based on the molecular interaction studies and ADME (Absorption Distribution Metabolism Excretion) predictions it was found that curcumin can act as potent inhibitor of many cancer targets and can be used as a starting molecule for the design of anticancerous drug.</div>

​Exploring Inhibitory Potential of Curcumin against Multiple Targets Involved in the Cancer Progression, Metastasis and Apoptosis Pathways by in silico Molecular Docking

Background: To investigate the efficiency of a novel nanocurcumin preparation in terms of solubility in water and effect on various biomarkers of bone development over untreated turmeric was the main objective of this study.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Osteoblasts were derived from rat mesenchymal stem cells (rMSCs) and cultured in laboratory. The samples were treated with curcumin and a novel nanocurcumin preparation. The treatment was continued for 7 days and samples were collected at different time intervals. cDNA was prepared from RNA. Expression of biomarkers was studied using primers for each osteoblast and osteoclast-specific marker gene. 
 
Result: The relative expression levels of osteoblast-specific markers like Runx2, OCN, OPN, ALP, Col-I and Col-III were significantly (p&lt;0.01) increased in nanocurcumin treated group. In contrast, the relative expression levels of osteoclast-specific markers like RANKL, CAT-K, MMP9 and MCSF were significantly reduced in nanocurcumin treated cells as paralleled to control and curcumin. It was observed that the aqueous solubility of curcumin in the nanocurcumin was increased 6 times as compared to untreated turmeric. The effect of nanocurcumin on the expression of different biomarkers lasted for a longer duration than untreated curcumin under the same culture conditions. It has been decided from this study that nanocurcumin is more effective than curcumin for induction of osteoblast differentiation and inhibition of osteoclast differentiation suggesting potential of nanocurcumin as a drug candidate in prevention and treatment of osteoporosis as compared to curcumin alone.&nbsp;

​Exploring Inhibitory Potential of Curcumin against Multiple Targets Involved in the Cancer Progression, Metastasis and Apoptosis Pathways by in silico Molecular Docking

In vitro Evaluation of Efficacy of Nanocurcumin Preparation on Primary Rat Osteoblast

Exploring Inhibitory Potential of Curcumin against Multiple Targets Involved in the Cancer Progression, Metastasis and Apoptosis Pathways by in silico Molecular Docking