Androscience demonstrates that Curcumin Analogues degrade Androgen Receptors, having significant implications for the treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia. Curcumin has already been shown to be a potent 5 alpha reductase inhibitor in the classic animal model used to determine anti-androgenic activity-the hamster flank organ. Androgen receptor degradation would be an even more significant mechanism of action in regards to the treatment of Androgen mediated disorders.

As featured in our prior updates, an Italian research team patented the oral combination of Resveratrol and normal Curcumin for its hair growth effects.

Superior Curcumin extracts with a much enhanced bio-availability can now be used in place of plain curcumin to enhance its therapeutic effects.

A clinical study published in the Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Science assessed the bioavailability of curcuminoids and tested a patented formulation, BCM-95® (Bio-Curcumin)from Dolcas-Biotech Inc., on a human volunteer group. Normal curcumin was used in the control group. After a washout period of two weeks the control group and drug group were crossed over BCM-95 CG and curcumin, respectively. Researchers also compared a combination of curcumin-lecithin-piperine, which was earlier shown to provide enhanced bioavailability. The relative bioavailability of BCM-95 CG (Bio-Curcumin) was about 6.93-fold compared to normal curcumin and about 6.3-fold compared to curcumin-lecithin-piperine formula. It was concluded that BCM-95 CG has potential for widespread application for various chronic diseases.

Novel Anti-Prostate Cancer Curcumin Analogues that Enhance Androgen Receptor Degradation Activity.

Shi Q, Shih CC, Lee KH.

AndroScience Corporation, San Diego, CA, 91121 USA

The androgen receptor (AR) plays a crucial role in the physiological and pathological functions of androgen. As a transcription factor, the AR modulates androgen activity by regulating the transcription of target genes that are involved in numerous physiological functions and pathological disorders, such as acne vulgaris, androgenetic alopecia, benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), and prostate cancers. Although many natural and synthetic curcumin analogues have been reported to possess anticancer activity through a common cytotoxic property against proliferating tumor cells, none has been reported to inhibit cancer cell growth through a more specific mechanism or target in the cancer cells. Recently, curcumin analogues were studied extensively regarding their synthesis, structure-activity (i.e., anticancer activity) relationships, and mechanism of action. These compounds, such as ASC-J9 and its analogues (3 and 4), have now been shown to inhibit prostate cancer proliferation through a novel mechanism of enhancing AR degradation.