Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35303012›Full record

ArticlePloS one2022

Physicochemical investigation of a novel curcumin diethyl γ-aminobutyrate, a carbamate ester prodrug of curcumin with enhanced anti-neuroinflammatory activity.

Ponsiree Jithavech, Piyapan Suwattananuruk, Hasriadi, Chawanphat Muangnoi, Worathat Thitikornpong, Pasarapa Towiwat, Opa Vajragupta, Pornchai Rojsitthisak

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
11citing papers in PubMed
1.1field-weighted citation impact, top 26% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

11 citing papers in PubMed, 16 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Chemical constituents in the rhizome of Curcuma longa and the pharmacological importance of curcumin hybrids.Medicinal chemistry research : an international journal for rapid communications on design and mechanisms of action of biologically active agents · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Ponsiree JithavechCenter of Excellence in Natural Products for Ageing and Chronic Diseases, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Piyapan SuwattananurukCenter of Excellence in Natural Products for Ageing and Chronic Diseases, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
HasriadiPharmaceutical Sciences and Technology Program, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Chawanphat MuangnoiCell and Animal Model Unit, Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand.
Worathat ThitikornpongCenter of Excellence in Natural Products for Ageing and Chronic Diseases, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.ORCID 0000-0002-3537-3646
Pasarapa TowiwatCenter of Excellence in Natural Products for Ageing and Chronic Diseases, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Opa VajraguptaCenter of Excellence in Natural Products for Ageing and Chronic Diseases, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.ORCID 0000-0003-3313-0621
Pornchai RojsitthisakCenter of Excellence in Natural Products for Ageing and Chronic Diseases, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.ORCID 0000-0003-1391-6993
Chulalongkorn University · THMahidol University · TH

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Curcumin is a polyphenol compound that alleviates several neuroinflammation-related diseases including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and cerebral injury. However, the therapeutic efficacy of curcumin is limited by its poor physicochemical properties. The present study aimed to develop a new carrier-linked curcumin prodrug, curcumin diethyl γ-aminobutyrate (CUR-2GE), with improved physicochemical and anti-neuroinflammatory properties. CUR-2GE was designed and synthesized by conjugating curcumin with gamma-aminobutyric acid ethyl ester (GE) via a carbamate linkage. The carbamate linkage was selected to increase stability at acidic pH while GE served as a promoiety for lipophilic enhancement. The synthesized CUR-2GE was investigated for solubility, partition coefficient, stability, and bioconversion. The solubility of CUR-2GE was less than 0.05 μg/mL similar to that of curcumin, while the lipophilicity with log P of 3.57 was significantly increased. CUR-2GE was resistant to chemical hydrolysis at acidic pH (pH 1.2 and 4.5) as anticipated but rapidly hydrolyzed at pH 6.8 and 7.4. The incomplete hydrolysis of CUR-2GE was observed in simulated gastrointestinal fluids which liberated the intermediate curcumin monoethyl γ-aminobutyric acid (CUR-1GE) and the parent curcumin. In plasma, CUR-2GE was sequentially converted to CUR-1GE and curcumin within 1 h. In lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV-2 microglial cells, CUR-2GE effectively attenuated the pro-inflammatory mediators by decreasing the secretion of nitric oxide and cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) to a greater extent than curcumin due to an increase in cellular uptake. Altogether, the newly developed acid-stable CUR-2GE prodrug is a potential pre-clinical and clinical candidate for further evaluation on neuroprotective and anti-neuroinflammatory effects.

Indexed as

CurcuminProdrugsAminobutyratesCarbamatesEstersgamma-Aminobutyric AcidAminobutyratesCarbamatesCurcuminEstersgamma-Aminobutyric AcidProdrugs

Identifiers

PMID35303012
PMCPMC9048745
OpenAlexW4221003105

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.