| abstract
Background: Curcumin is a natural polyphenol and the main compound from the rhizome
of Turmeric (Curcuma longa) and other Curcuma species. It has been widely
used for different medical purposes, such as improvement of pain and inflammatory
conditions in various diseases.
Purpose: This systematic review was aimed to assess all studies regarding the efficacy
of the pure form of curcumin (unformulated curcumin) on rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Methods: The comprehensive search of the literature was done until September
2020 on the MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus and Web of Knowledge databases. Out of
2079 initial records, 51 articles (13 in vitro and 37 animal and one human) were met
our inclusion criteria.
Results: Most studies have shown the curative effects of curcumin on clinical and
inflammatory parameters of RA and reported different mechanisms; inhibition of
mitogen-activated
protein kinase family, extracellular signal-regulated
protein kinase,
activator protein-1
and nuclear factor kappa B are the main mechanisms associated
with the anti-inflammatory
function of curcumin in RA. The results of the only human
study showed that curcumin significantly improved morning stiffness, walking time
and joint swelling.
Conclusion: In conclusion, curcumin seems to be useful, and it is recommended that
more human studies be performed to approve the cellular and animal results and
determine the effective and optimal doses of curcumin on RA patients. |