Curcumin in Chronic Kidney Disease: From Experimental Evidence to Clinical Application

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major global health challenge characterized by progressive renal dysfunction, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, fibrosis, and increased cardiovascular risk. Curcumin, the principal bioactive compound of Curcuma longa, has attracted considerable scientific interest because of its pleiotropic biological properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antifibrotic, and immunomodulatory activities. Experimental studies have consistently demonstrated renoprotective effects in several models of kidney injury, including diabetic nephropathy, ischemia-reperfusion injury, obstructive nephropathy, and toxic renal damage. Human studies have shown encouraging effects on proteinuria, inflammatory biomarkers, and oxidative stress, although evidence regarding long-term preservation of renal function remains inconclusive. This review summarizes current knowledge regarding the molecular mechanisms, preclinical evidence, clinical studies, safety profile, and future perspectives of curcumin in CKD.