Curcumin: A therapeutic strategy for targeting the Helicobacter pylori-related diseases

Helicobacter pylori is a significant human pathogen of the stomach's epithelial lining. This type of carcinogen is associated with gastric cancer, indigestion, peptic ulcers, and upper digestive diseases. Therefore, successful treatment and eradication of this bacterium are required to reduce the prevalence of these diseases, especially in high-risk individuals. Moreover, some concerns exist regarding the extensive use of elimination therapy, such as anti-microbial resistance and rising H. pylori-associated diseases. Since there is still no effective vaccine, finding alternative therapies would appear to be a worthwhile pursuit. In this regard, curcumin exhibits anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, anti-oxidant properties and is widely used as a natural product-derived medicine or nutraceutical. Furthermore, curcumin has been reported to have anti-bacterial activity. Therefore, curcumin might be an effective herbal-based medicine for preventing, managing, or treating H. pylori infection. This review discusses the anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-bacterial properties of curcumin as it pertains to gastric cancer and H. pylori-associated diseases.