Ilmu Kedokteran Pengobatan Tradisional

Potential of Curcumin as Anti-inflammatory Agent in the

Skin
Anandita Dewi Anjani1, Dinda Azzahrah Saragih1, Hana Daini Sabathania1, Nusyur Azka
Nafisah1, Dr. dr. Debby Handayani, M.Kes

Program Studi Kedokteran, Universitas Sriwijaya, Palembang

Abstract
Turmeric is a plant that is widely cultivated in Asia. Its use as a herbal medicine has been
recognized and its safety is guaranteed. Curcumin is one of the main biologically active
components contained in turmeric. Curcumin is usually referred to as 1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-
methoxyphenyl)-1,6 heptadiene-3,5-dione or also referred to as "curcumin I". Various studies
show that curcumin has strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Curcumin inhibits
microbial growth, disrupts cell membranes, and causes early apoptosis so it is effective in
treating skin infections caused by bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Its ability to inhibit biosynthesis
and various molecular pathways in inflammation, including leukotriene, phospholipase,
collagenase, nitric oxide, hyaluronidase, elastase, protein, monocyte chemoattractant-1 (MCP-1)
which will be induced by interferon, interleukin, and tumor necrosis factor makes Turmeric has
anti-inflammatory properties. Research conducted by Indriani et al in 2018 proved that turmeric
extract has inhibitory activity against inflammation.
Keywords: turmeric, curcumin, anti-inflammatory, skin.
Background
Turmeric is a plant that is widely
cultivated in Asia, especially in China and
India. It grows in various tropical and
subtropical regions of the world. This plant
has short stems and can reach a height of
one meter. Turmeric is an important spice
throughout the world with particular benefits
for humans in Eastern circles. Apart from
being used as a spice, it is also used as a
traditional medicine in Asian countries, such
as India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, because
of its good properties. In Iran, it is called
saffron (Zarchooveh) and is used as a spice
and medicine. In it, there is the compound
curcumin which, based on various studies, is
a very useful compound. Due to its many
potential benefits, curcumin (CUR), a
natural plant product found in the rhizomes
of Curcuma longa, is considered the miracle
cure of the future. For centuries, Curcuma
longa, also known as "Indian turmeric", the
golden spice, or saffron, has been used
widely as a flavoring, herbal medicine, and
dye. In research on curcumin, it has been
found that the chemical structure of this
polyphenol shows antimutagenic,
antiplatelet, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-
inflammatory and antiangiogenic
aggregation properties.1 Several research
results show that curcumin is useful for
protecting and preventing various diseases,
including cancer, autoimmune diseases. ,
neurological, metabolic, lung, liver, and
cardiovascular disease (CVD). In general,
the name of curcumin is 1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-
3-methoxyphenyl)-1,6 heptadiene-3,5-dione.
However, this compound is also known as
“curcumin I”. In short, curcumin is
diferuloylmethane with the chemical
formula C21H20O6, a molecular weight of
368.39 g/mol, and a melting temperature of
183°C. Chemically, it exhibits keto-enol
tautomerism. In neutral and acidic solutions,
the dominant keto form is the more stable
enol form. In the solid state and in basic
solutions, on the other hand, the keto form is
the predominant keto form. Two other
compounds called curcumin are curcumin II
(demethoxycurcumin, 1-(4 hydroxy-3-
methoxyphenyl)-7-(4 hydroxyphenyl -1,6-
heptadiene-3,5-dione) and curcumin III
(bisdemethoxycurcumin, 1,7 -bis(4-
hydroxyphenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione).2
Conventional medicine has recently
made great efforts to discover new, cheap,
and safe molecules that can be used to treat
infections, inflammation, and neoplastics.
The anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and
antimicrobial properties of curcumin have
been studied in a number of studies, both
independently and in conjunction with function. It is estimated that there are twenty
traditional medicine.3 billion lymphocytes in the layers of the skin,
There are many benefits of curcumin for the which allows them to play an important role
skin. Curcumin suppresses kinase action in various pathologies. CD8+ tissue-resident
through interactions with a number of memory T cells and Langerhans cells are the
proteins. It controls the expression of most dominant immune cell populations in
various cytokines, enzymes, and cell the epidermis, whereas in the dermis there
survival proteins by activating various are dendritic cells, macrophages, innate
transcription factors. It has many medical lymphoid cells, natural killer cells, and
benefits, including antioxidant, anti- CD8+ tissue-resident memory T cells.
inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, antidiabetic, Memory T cells appear to play an important
antibacterial, antifungal, antiprotozoal, role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory
antiviral, antiulcer, and anticoagulant skin diseases (ISD). Its free radical
activities. Oral and topical use of turmeric is scavenging and anti-inflammatory properties
indicated for preventing and treating various make it useful in treating skin conditions
skin diseases, including dermatitis, wounds, such as skin aging, psoriasis, dermatitis, and
inflammation, psoriasis, and premature vitiligo.5 Curcumin inhibits microbial
aging. Human skin is made up of tissue and growth, disrupts cell membranes, and causes
is spread over an area of about 20 square premature apoptosis making it effective in
feet that acts as a layer that keeps the treating skin inflammation caused by
muscles and organs underneath safe. The bacteria, fungi, and viruses.6 There are
body is protected and separated from its several studies that have found the potential
environment. In addition to performing for curcumin compounds to be quite
sensory functions and controlling body effective anti-inflammatories against
temperature. curcumin has effective anti- inflammatory skin conditions. Therefore,
inflammatory, antioxidant and wound this literature review will provide an
healing effects.4 The skin's immune system overview of various studies regarding the
consists of various effector cells and skin potential of curcumin as an anti-
molecules, which serve as more than just a inflammatory agent in inflammatory skin
mechanical barrier against external threats. conditions.
Many types of cells help the skin's immune
 In research conducted by
Chandrawati et al in 2023 which discussed
Methods the development of the herbal plant turmeric
The method used is a narrative as a facial mask for acne sufferers on the
literature review taken from several relevant face. Turmeric or Curcuma longa is a spice
references. The author used the keywords that is usually used as a mixture of food
"turmeric", "curcumin", "anti- ingredients, for making herbal medicine,
inflammatory", "skin" to select journals cosmetics, and traditional medicine. The
published in the last five years via Google curcuminoids curcumin and
Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, and bidesmetoxycurcumin are chemicals and
NCBI. vitamin C contained in turmeric. In this
The selected journals use relevant themes study, it was said that curcumin and essential
and keywords. oils are the main components of turmeric
which have antimicrobial properties.
Results Curcumin's antibacterial properties are
Curcumin is the main biologically associated with its ability to bind the FtsZ
active component in turmeric. Several protein (acts as a protein for organizing and
studies show that curcumin has strong is needed in cell division) and can influence
antioxidants, anti-inflammatory properties, protofilament development. When the
and can heal wounds. Turmeric is a herbal formation of the Z ring (the initial stage of
medicine that is safe in the amounts found in bacterial cell division) is disrupted, its
food and when used orally or topically in antibacterial action will prevent bacterial
medicinal amounts. Turmeric will cause a growth and cytokinesis. Apart from
temporary yellow color to the skin, damaging cell membranes and walls,
especially in people with light skin. bacterial lysis also results from the binding
Inflammation has several functions, reaction of curcumin with peptidoglycan by
including reducing, destroying and damaging the cell membrane. Meanwhile,
localizing the damaged or destructive agent. the carbonyl and hydroxyl groups contained
The characteristics of anti-inflammatory are in essential oils have the ability to change
swelling, heat, redness, pain, and changes in the properties of proteins, so they can
function.7 prevent the development of microbes.
Through the findings of a combination of has anti-inflammatory properties due to
antibacterial activity tests, research different mechanisms in the arachidonic acid
conducted by Chandrawati et al can be system. Its ability to inhibit the biosynthesis
concluded that the ethanol extract of cherry of various inflammatory molecular
leaves combined with turmeric can produce pathways, including leukotrienes,
greater antibacterial activity than turmeric phospholipase, collagenase, nitric oxysite
extract alone. Because there are active (NO), hyaluronidase, elastase, protein,
substances, including saponins, flavonoids, monocyte chemoattractant-1 (MCP-1),
tannins and alkaloids contained in the which can be induced by interferon,
ethanol extract of cherry leaves. This interleukin, and tumor necrosis factor , is the
substance has antimicrobial properties due to anti-inflammatory characteristic of this
the interaction of hydrogen produced by turmeric. In addition, it is said that curcumin
bacterial cell wall proteins which will have has the ability to change the inflammatory
their proteins denatured by flavonoids. response by reducing the activity of
Because of this, bacterial permeability will cycooxygenase-2 (COX-2), the enzyme
be unstable and cause cell lysis. Meanwhile, inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS), and
tannin also functions as an antibacterial lipoxygenase. Furthermore, curcumin can
which will interact with cell membranes, stop the formation of inflammatory
inhibit the work of enzymes, and kill genetic cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-
material. Tannins will also change the alpha (TNF-a), interleukin (IL)-1, -2, -6, -8,
production of peptidoglycan which makes and -12. Monocyte chemoattractant protein
cell wall formation irregular. 8 (MCP), migration inhibitory protein, and
In the results of a journal review mitogen-activated down-regulates.9
from research by Afriyana et al in 2023, it
was stated that the content of turmeric
consists of, 0.3 – 5.4% curcuminoids, 3 –
7% essential oil, 60 – 70% resin (including
terpenoids, phenylpropene, alkaloids,
carbohydrates, and triterpenoids), 5 – 10%
fat content, 2 – 7% fiber, 6 – 8% protein, 6 –
13% vitamin and mineral content. Turmeric
 Inflammatory Agents Modulated by
Curcumin10
Indriani et al's 2018 research tested the anti-
inflammatory activity of turmeric, tamarind
and betel. It was found that the percentage of
inhibition of 1000 ppm turmeric extract was
92.79%, 500 ppm turmeric extract had a
percentage of 76.33%, 100 ppm turmeric
extract had a percentage of 89.39%, and 10
ppm turmeric extract had a percentage of
87.89%. The inhibition percentage of
tamarind extract was 93.06% at a control. The ointment is given 2 times a day
concentration of 1000 ppm, 74.42% at a
concentration of 500 ppm, 70.34% at a
concentration of 100 ppm, at a concentration
of 10 ppm it was found to be 57-01%. Then
the percentage of inhibition of 1000 ppm
betel extract was 94.15%, at a concentration
of 500 ppm 88.71%, 76.33% was obtained at
a concentration of 100 ppm, and 69.39% for
betel extract with a concentration of 10 ppm.
Then a graph was obtained showing the
inhibition of each test substance at a
concentration of 100 ppm which showed a
difference that was not too far from aspirin
extract and turmeric extract, but was very
different from the percentage of tamarind
extract and betel extract.11
Graph of % Inhibition at 100 ppm11
Journal of Susanto et al. from 2023
conducting research on the potential of a
combination of turmeric rhizome extract and
whiting as an anti-inflammatory and healing
cut wounds. This study used mice as test
animals for turmeric extract against cut
wounds, by applying a combination of ERK
and KS ointment in a ratio of 1;1, 1;2, and
2;1, with vaseline album as a negative
control and povidone ointment as a positive
every morning and evening for 12 days.
Previously, cut wound measurements were
also carried out on test animals. The
treatment results showed that giving a
combination of ERK and KS in a ratio of 2:1
would reduce the length of the longest
wounds compared to compositions of 1:1
and 1:2. On the tenth day, the cut wound will
heal more quickly if ERK turmeric rhizome
extract and KS whiting lime are given in the
proportion of 2:1, with the wound drying out
and closing completely. Meanwhile, in the
negative control description, it was found
that there was wound closure with a residual
of 4.49 mm on the 12th day and wound
healing was slower than the other treatment
groups. The percentage calculation results
show that 100% of the wounds healed on the
tenth day showing a composition of 2:1,
which means that the wounds healed faster
than the other treatment groups.12

Conclusions
Curcumin is the main biologically active
component in turmeric which has anti-
inflammatory properties. Its ability to inhibit
the biosynthesis of various inflammatory
molecular pathways, including leukotrienes,
phospholipase, collagenase, nitric oxysite
(NO), hyaluronidase, elastase, protein,
monocyte chemoattractant-1 (MCP-1),
which can be induced by interferon,
interleukin, and tumor necrosis factor , is a
characteristic of the anti-inflammatory
properties of the curcumin compound in
turmeric.

References :
1. Turmeric: A spice with multifunctional
medicinal properties [Internet]. [cited 2023
Nov 28]. Available from:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/2
85776797_Turmeric_A_spice_with_multif
unctional_medicinal_properties
2. Sharifi-Rad J, Rayess Y El, Rizk AA,
Sadaka C, Zgheib R, Zam W, et al. Turmeric
and Its Major Compound Curcumin on
Health: Bioactive Effects and Safety Profiles
for Food, Pharmaceutical, Biotechnological
and Medicinal Applications. Front
Pharmacol. 2020 Sep 15;11.
3. Vollono L, Falconi M, Gaziano R, Iacovelli
F, Dika E, Terracciano C, et al. Potential of
Curcumin in Skin Disorders. Nutrients
[Internet]. 2019 Sep 1 [cited 2023 Nov
28];11(9). Available from:
/pmc/articles/PMC6770633/
4. Kumar B, Aggarwal R, Prakash U, Sahoo
PK. REVIEW Open Access Emerging
therapeutic potential of curcumin in the
management of dermatological diseases: an
extensive review of drug and
pharmacological activities. Futur J Pharm
Sci [Internet]. 2023 [cited 2023 Nov
28];9:42. Available from:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
5. Tampa M, Neagu M, Caruntu C, Constantin
C, Georgescu SR. Personalized Medicine
Skin Inflammation-A Cornerstone in
Dermatological Conditions. J Pers Med
2022 [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2023 Nov
28];12. Available from:
https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm12091370
6. Kocaadam B, Şanlier N. Curcumin, an
active component of turmeric (Curcuma
longa), and its effects on health. Crit Rev
Food Sci Nutr. 2017 Sep 2;57(13):2889–95.
7. Fadhilah H, Rachmani K, Hajaring
N. Aktifitas Kunyit (Curcuma
domestica Val.) Sebagai
Antiinflamasi Ditinjau Dari Berbagai
Literatur. Edu Masda Journal.
2021;5(1):100–6.
8. Chandrawati AAIAS, Susanti NMP.
Pengolahan dan Pengembangan
Tanaman Herbal Tradisional Kunyit
(Curcuma longa) Sebagai Masker
Wajah Bagi Penderita Acne Vulgaris.
In 2023. p. 439–48.
9. Afriyana R, Junando M, Nurmasuri
N. Potensial Ekstrak Herbal Kunyit
(Curcuma Longa) Sebagai Anti
Bakteri dan Anti Inflamasi. Jurnal
Agromedicine. 2023;10(1):128–32.
10. Nasser GA. Kunyit sebagai agen anti
inflamasi. Wellness And Healthy
Magazine. 2020;2(1):147–58.
11. Indriani U, Idiawati N, Wibowo MA.
Uji Aktivitas Antiinflamasi Dan
Toksisitas Infus Kunyit (Curcuma
Domestica Val.), Asam Jawa
(Tamarindus Indica L.) Dan Sirih
(Piper betle L.). Jurnal Kimia
Khatulistiwa. 2018;7(2).
12. Susanto Y, Solehah FA, Fadya A,
Khaerati K. Potensi Kombinasi
Ekstrak Rimpang Kunyit (Curcuma
longa L.) dan Kapur Sirih Sebagai
Anti Inflamasi dan Penyembuh Luka
Sayat. JPSCR: Journal of
Pharmaceutical Science and Clinical
Research. 2023;8(1):32–45.