REVIEW article
Front. Med.
Sec. Obstetrics and Gynecology
This article is part of the Research TopicPhytochemicals in Modern Medicine: Health Benefits and Toxicological ConsiderationsView all 4 articles
From bench to bedside: unlocking the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer promise of curcumin in gynecology
Provisionally accepted
- 1Ankara Medipol University, Ankara, Türkiye
- 2Hacettepe Universitesi, Ankara, Türkiye
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Curcumin, a bioactive polyphenol derived from turmeric (Curcuma longa), has garnered substantial attention for its potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antineoplastic properties. This review explores the therapeutic potential of curcumin in gynecologic health, with a focus on its role in the management of ovarian, cervical, and endometrial cancers, as well as benign conditions such as endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, premenstrual syndrome, and menopausal symptoms. A literature review was conducted on the health effects of gynecology. Relevant articles were identified through systematic searches in major biomedical databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science databases for studies reporting the relationship between curcumin and some in gynecological diseasess as of 2025. Curcumin modulates key inflammatory signaling pathways, reduces oxidative stress, and exerts antiproliferative effects, making it a promising adjunct in the treatment of both neoplastic and inflammatory gynecologic disorders. Nevertheless, clinical translation remains limited by challenges such as poor bioavailability and a paucity of large-scale, randomized controlled trials. Emerging evidence supports the integration of curcumin into multimodal treatment strategies, particularly in oncology and chronic inflammatory conditions. In light of the need to improve treatment efficacy and enhance patients’ quality of life, the exploration of novel adjuvant therapeutic strategies is highly warranted. Recent studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of curcumin and its novel analogues across a range of gynecologic diseases, while advances in formulation technologies have led to improved pharmacokinetic profiles and therapeutic outcomes. Nevertheless, further robust clinical investigations are required to optimize curcumin formulations, enhance bioavailability, and establish evidence-based guidelines for its integration into gynecologic care. This review synthesizes current evidence and highlights the underlying molecular mechanisms responsible for the observed effects, aiming to support the rational development of curcumin-based strategies in gynecology.
Keywords: Curcumin, Endometriosis, gynecological cancer, Menopause, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Polyphenols, Premenstrual Syndrome
Received: 09 Dec 2025; Accepted: 26 Jan 2026.
Copyright: © 2026 Sanlier, Sacinti, Turkoglu and Sanlier. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Nevin Sanlier
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