Curcumin is a polyphenolic beta-dicarbonyl found in the spice turmeric that is proposed to offer various medicinal advantages in treating specific forms of cancer and Alzheimer's disease. Previous work has shown that curcumin strongly chelates certain transition metal ions that are thought to contribute to oxidative damage in the Alzheimer's brain. An in vitro model of oxidative stress is explored here whereby N-acetyl-tyrosine is oxidized to form the highly fluorescent dityrosine by the oxidizing system Cu(II)/H2O2. Fluorescence measurements reveal that curcumin nearly halts oxidation of N-acetyl-tyrosine in this system. Absorption spectroscopy measurements suggest that curcumin inhibits oxidative stress through simple Cu(II) chelation as opposed to scavenging oxidant intermediates.

Effect of curcumin on the oxidation of N-acetyl-tyrosine in an in vitro Cu(II)/H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> model of Alzheimer's disease

239th National Meeting (2010)

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Effect of curcumin on the oxidation of N-acetyl-tyrosine in an in vitro Cu(II)/H2O2 model of Alzheimer's disease

Effect of curcumin on the oxidation of N-acetyl-tyrosine in an in vitro Cu(II)/H₂O₂ model of Alzheimer's disease