Introduction: The idea of using herbal remedies and phytochemicals has led to a new revolution in medicine. Naturally occurring ingredients, especially polyphenols (as curcumin, morin, juglone, etc.) have gained significance because of their negligible side effects, abundance, and low cost. Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is a constituent of turmeric isolated from the rhizome of Curcuma longa. Research for more than two decades has discovered the pleiotropic nature of the medical and biological effects of this molecule. More than 7000 published articles have focused on the innumerable aspects of curcumin as well as it's antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and hypoglycemic activities (Ghosh, Banerjee, & Sil, 2015).
Methods: The main aim of this review is to introduce some significant medicinal properties of Curcumin as an important molecule. Therefore, we studied the recent papers published in NCBI about Curcumin and its effects on the brain, learning abilities and relating issues.
Results: Ar-turmerone, curcuminoids and α-linolenic acid were the lead compounds present in turmeric extract. Increased serum corticosterone levels observed in stressed mice when compared to the control group, while turmeric treatment significantly reduced serum corticosterone level. Turmeric treatment caused improved learning and memory in the spatial learning test, in stressed animals. Social novelty preference also re-established in animals treated by turmeric. Following turmeric treatment, the level of M5 expression improved in the cortex and M3 expression improved in the hippocampus of stress + scopolamine + turmeric treated group. Khalid et al. (2017) paper highlighted the therapeutic role of turmeric by promoting the M3, M5 expression and improving learning abilities and memory functions. Based on that turmeric can be an effective candidate for the treatment of amnesia caused by the stress. Curcumin also is widely used in Asia and has many therapeutic properties, as well as antioxidant, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-mutagenic, anti-amyloidogenic and anti-inflammatory, especially with respect to neuroinflammation and neurological disorders (NDs). Curcumin is a pleiotropic molecule that inhibits microglia transformation, inflammatory mediators and subsequent NDs. (Ghasemi, Bagheri, Barreto, Read, & Sahebkar, 2019).
Conclusion: In summary, recent studies show that turmeric extract has many active biomolecules such as curcumin that has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and many therapeutic properties that can be effective in amnesia and neurological disorders (NDs). It also can and improve learning abilities and memory functions.