Curcumin and curcuminoid inhibition of angiogenesis

Abstract

Methods for treating diseases or disorders of the skin which are characterized by angiogenesis have been developed using curcumin and curcumin analogs. Based on the results obtained with curcumin, it has been determined that other angiogenesis inhibitors can also be used to treat these skin disorders. It has further been discovered that curcumin acts to inhibit angiogenesis in part by inhibition of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and thereby provides a means for treating other disorders characterized by elevated levels of bFGF, such as bladder cancer, using curcumin and other analogues which also inhibit bFGF. Representative skin disorders to be treated include the malignant diseases angiosarcoma, hemangioendothelioma, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma and Karposi's sarcoma, and the non-malignant diseases or conditions including psoriasis, lymphangiogenesis, hemangioma of childhood, Sturge-Weber syndrome, verruca vulgaris, neurofibromatosis, tuberous sclerosis, pyogenic granulomas, recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, venous ulcers, acne, rosacea, eczema, molluscum contagious, seborrheic keratosis, and actinic keratosis.

1 . A method for inhibiting disorders of the gastrointestinal tract characterized by elevated levels of basic fibroblast growth factor comprising orally administering to an individual having a gastrointestinal disorder an effective amount of a curcuminoid to inhibit the disorder. 
   
   
       2 - 7 . (canceled) 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the curcuminoid is curcumin. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the curcuminoid is selected from the group consisting of demethoxycurcumin, bisdemethoxycurcumin, and tetrahydrocurcumin. 
   
   
       10 - 16 . (canceled)