Mechanisms and Clinical Research Advances of Curcumin in Modulation of Hyperlipidemia
10.13422/j.cnki.syfjx.20252338
- VernacularTitle:姜黄素调控高脂血症的机制与临床研究进展
- Author:
Zhijun ZENG
1
;
Wenjie LU
1
;
Xiaoxue MA
2
;
Yanhua JI
1
;
Yun TONG
1
;
Siyu LING
1
;
Yue ZENG
1
;
Chao LE
1
;
Shaohua WANG
3
Author Information
1. Research Center for Differentiation and Development of Basic Theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine（TCM）， Jiangxi University of TCM， Nanchang 330004，China
2. Shandong Medicine Technician College， Tai'an 271000，China
3. School of Sports Health， Jiangxi University of TCM， Nanchang 330004，China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
hyperlipidemia;
curcumin;
lipid metabolism;
multi-target regulation;
clinical application
- From:
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae
2026;32(18):325-334
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Hyperlipidemia is a common metabolic disorder driven by dysregulated lipid metabolism， whose pathological progression involves multifaceted interactions across various signaling pathways， including disrupted cholesterol homeostasis， insulin resistance， chronic inflammation， and oxidative stress. Although existing clinical medications such as statins can effectively reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol through single-target inhibition， significant limitations remain in comprehensively improving reverse cholesterol transport， metabolic inflammation， and coordinated regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism. Curcumin， the primary polyphenolic active compound derived from the traditional medicinal herb turmeric， exhibits multi-dimensional pharmacological effects including modulation of lipid metabolism， improvement of insulin sensitivity， suppression of inflammatory responses， and enhancement of antioxidant defense. This review systematically integrates the multi-target regulatory network of curcumin， elucidating its key mechanisms： Balancing the low density lipoprotein receptor/proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 （LDLR/PCSK9） signaling pathway to promote reverse cholesterol transport， activating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α/γ （PPARα/γ） signaling pathways to coordinate glucolipid metabolic homeostasis， remodeling the gut microbiota-bile acid axis， inhibiting nuclear factor kappa-B （NF-κB）-mediated inflammatory responses， and activating the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/antioxidant response element （Nrf2/ARE） antioxidant signaling pathway. Furthermore， supported by clinical research data， the review validates curcumin's therapeutic potential in reducing total cholesterol （TC） and triglyceride （TG） levels， increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C）， as well as improving vascular endothelial function and insulin sensitivity. The study highlights the multi-target regulatory properties of curcumin and discusses future clinical applications based on nano-delivery systems and personalized treatment strategies， providing a theoretical basis and novel insights for the prevention and treatment of hyperlipidemia and related metabolic disorders.
