Curcumin pharmacology and pharmacokinetics: current challenges and future perspectives in nanoemulsion delivery

Derived from the rhizome of Curcuma longa L. , curcumin has evolved from a traditional component of South Asian medicine into a prominent topic in modern pharmacology. Curcumin has a pleiotropic pharmacological profile with biological properties including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects. However, its clinical translation faces physiological and chemical challenges, characterized by low systemic bioavailability, instability at neutral to alkaline pH, and rapid metabolic clearance. This review examines the molecular mechanisms and biological barriers that limit its efficiency and explores nanotechnology as a strategy to optimize its pharmacokinetic profile. It focuses on nanostructured systems, emphasizing nanoemulsions, to improve stability and prolong systemic circulation. Finally, the current landscape of clinical studies and the prospects for using these nanosystems to manage inflammatory and oncological diseases are discussed to establish curcumin as a therapeutic alternative.