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Research progress on the signaling pathways of curcumin in obesity treatment

ZHANG Shen, YU Hua, LI Ying^*

College of Life Science, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Freshwater Fishes, Animal Biology Key Laboratory of Chongqing Education Commission, Chongqing 401331, China

Abstract

Obesity and related metabolic syndrome have become a worldwide health crisis. Browning of white adipose tissue, reducing triglyceride content in adipocytes, decreasing the number of adipocytes and reducing inflammation and oxidative stress in adipose tissue are effective strategies to attenuate obesity and its related complications. The present review discussed the role of the natural substance curcumin in reducing adipose tissue by regulating different signaling pathways, including inhibiting adipogenesis, promoting apoptosis, inducing brown adipocytes, and anti-inflammation. The effects of curcumin on improving obesity-related metabolic syndrome were analyzed, including promoting mitochondrial biogenesis and regulating mitochondrial autophagy, anti-oxidation, anti-inflammatory, ameliorating endoplasmic reticulum stress and modulating lipolysis signaling pathways. In addition, the bioavailability of curcumin and its challenges in clinical applications were discussed. This paper also reviewed the molecular mechanisms of curcumin in reducing obesity, with a hope to provide new insights into the application of curcumin to treat obesity and related metabolic diseases.

Key words: curcumin; signaling pathway; white adipose tissue browning; adipose tissue; obesity

Received: 　　Accepted:

Corresponding author: 李影　　E-mail:

DOI: 10.13294/j.aps.2025.0069

Citing This Article：

ZHANG Shen, YU Hua, LI Ying. Research progress on the signaling pathways of curcumin in obesity treatment. Acta Physiol Sin 2025; 77 (6): 1047-1061 (in Chinese with English abstract).