ReviewMolecules (Basel, Switzerland)2020
Free Radicals as a Double-Edged Sword: The Cancer Preventive and Therapeutic Roles of Curcumin.
Review in Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 72 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
72 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 154 citations in OpenAlex.
- Curcumin and Dementia: A Systematic Review of Its Effects on Oxidative Stress and Cognitive Outcomes in Animal Models.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Pooled it
- Article
- Novel curcumin formulations for the therapy of oral cancer: a comprehensive review of mechanisms, delivery systems, and translational prospects.The Saudi dental journal · 2026Review
- Modulation of mitochondrial DNA copy number: therapeutic potential of phytochemicals and plant extracts-a comprehensive review.Archives of pharmacal research · 2026Review
- Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin co-delivery hydrogel of crisaborole and curcumin for combinational antioxidant/anti-inflammatory therapy of vitiligo.Materials today. Bio · 2026Article
- Catechinic compounds suppress free radicals in camellia oil by donating hydrogen atoms: quantum chemistry calculation combined with EPR detection.Current research in food science · 2026Article
- Article
- The Central Role of NRF2 in Cancer Metabolism and Redox Signaling: Novel Insights into Crosstalk with ER Stress and Therapeutic Modulation.Cell biochemistry and biophysics · 2025Review
- Dual redox effects of 2,6-bis-(4-hydroxyl-3-methoxybenzylidene) cyclohexanone (BHMC) on human liver cancer cells, HepG2 via ROS, glutathione and Nrf2/Keap1 pathway.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Thermostable enzyme isoforms, continuously producing monocomponent superoxide radicals, from human postoperative serous fluids: isolation and properties.BMC cancer · 2025Article
- The Neuroprotective Role of Curcumin: From Molecular Pathways to Clinical Translation-A Narrative Review.Nutrients · 2025Review
- Article
- Albiflorin, a Monoterpene Glycoside, Protects Myoblasts against Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Apoptosis by Activating the Nrf2/HO-1 Axis.Biomolecules & therapeutics · 2025Article
- Curcumin nanoemulsion suppresses HPV oncogenes and inhibits cervical cancer progression: in vitro and in vivo study.Virology journal · 2025Article
- Hallmarks of Bacterial Vaginosis.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- The Potential Benefits of Curcumin-Enriched Diets for Adults with Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review.Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Ribes nigrum leaf extract downregulates pro-inflammatory gene expression and regulates redox balance in microglial cells.BMC complementary medicine and therapies · 2025Article
- Prooxidant state in anticancer drugs and prospect use of mitochondrial cofactors and anti-inflammatory agents in cancer prevention.Inflammopharmacology · 2025Review
- Novel Development and Sensory Evaluation of Extruded Snacks from Unripe Banana (Musa ABB cv. Kluai 'Namwa') and Rice Flour Enriched with Antioxidant-RichFoods (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Food interactions with tyrosine kinase inhibitors used to treat advanced renal cell carcinoma.Contemporary oncology (Poznan, Poland) · 2025Review
12 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Free radicals, generally composed of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), are generated in the body by various endogenous and exogenous systems. The overproduction of free radicals is known to cause several chronic diseases including cancer. However, increased production of free radicals by chemotherapeutic drugs is also associated with apoptosis in cancer cells, indicating the dual nature of free radicals. Among various natural compounds, curcumin manifests as an antioxidant in normal cells that helps in the prevention of carcinogenesis. It also acts as a prooxidant in cancer cells and is associated with inducing apoptosis. Curcumin quenches free radicals, induces antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase), and upregulates antioxidative protein markers-Nrf2 and HO-1 that lead to the suppression of cellular oxidative stress. In cancer cells, curcumin aggressively increases ROS that results in DNA damage and subsequently cancer cell death. It also sensitizes drug-resistant cancer cells and increases the anticancer effects of chemotherapeutic drugs. Thus, curcumin shows beneficial effects in prevention, treatment and chemosensitization of cancer cells. In this review, we will discuss the dual role of free radicals as well as the chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic effects of curcumin and its analogues against cancer.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.