O potencial neuroprotetor da curcuma longa no tratamento de depressão

Abstract

Depression today represents a worldwide significance, especially post pandemic. Conventional treatment is medication and may be associated with the psychotherapy process. There is the possibility of associating other alternative therapies such as herbal medicines in order to enhance treatment and reduce symptoms.Turmeric is of interest due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity and possible antidepressant action. To highlight the clinical findings performed with this substance and its mechanism of action. Of the 90 articles found that addressed the topic, 54 works between the years 2015 to 2022 were selected to carry out this review in order to investigate whether the association of curcumin would be an ally to conventional treatment against depression, minimizing its symptoms and which would be the likely mechanism of action. Experimental and clinical studies show positive effects in treatments for depression, reducing symptoms and also optimizing the process of serotonin production, being the mechanism of action of curcumin through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant action. Curcumin can be an ally in the treatment of depression with low cost and without side effects as common as drugs to treat the pathology.