What molecule does curcumin target by traveling into cell nuclei to switch off inflammation genes?
Answer
NF-kB
Curcumin exerts its powerful anti-inflammatory effects by molecularly interfering with a specific signaling pathway. It acts by blocking the activity of NF-kB, which is described as a molecule responsible for entering the nuclei of cells. Once inside the nucleus, NF-kB initiates the transcription of genes directly linked to the inflammatory response. By inhibiting this molecule, curcumin addresses inflammation at its fundamental source, rather than merely mitigating the symptoms that arise later in the biological process. This mechanism is key to its proposed role in managing chronic inflammation underlying various diseases.
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