Molecules 2014, 19, 20139-20156; doi:10.3390/molecules191220139 OPEN ACCESS molecules ISSN 1420-3049 www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules Review Curcumin and Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD): Major Mode of Action through Stimulating Endogenous Intestinal Alkaline Phosphatase Siddhartha S. Ghosh 1, Todd W. B. Gehr 1 and Shobha Ghosh 2,* 1 Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; E-Mails:
[email protected] (S.S.G.);
[email protected] (T.W.B.G.) 2 Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, VA 23298, USA * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail:
[email protected]; Tel.: +1-804-827-1012; Fax: +1-804-628-0325. External Editors: Bharat B. Aggarwal and Sahdeo Prasad Received: 13 October 2014; in revised form: 12 November 2014 / Accepted: 17 November 2014 / Published: 2 December 2014 Abstract: Curcumin, an active ingredient in the traditional herbal remedy and dietary spice turmeric (Curcuma longa), has significant anti-inflammatory properties. Chronic kidney disease (CKD), an inflammatory disease, can lead to end stage renal disease resulting in dialysis and transplant. Furthermore, it is frequently associated with other inflammatory disease such as diabetes and cardiovascular disorders. This review will focus on the clinically relevant inflammatory molecules that play a role in CKD and associated diseases. Various enzymes, transcription factors, growth factors modulate production and action of inflammatory molecules; curcumin can blunt the generation and action of these inflammatory molecules and ameliorate CKD as well as associated inflammatory disorders. Recent studies have shown that increased intestinal permeability results in the leakage of pro-inflammatory molecules (cytokines and lipopolysaccharides) from gut into the circulation in diseases such as CKD, diabetes and atherosclerosis.