Curcumin is a polyphenolic active compound in Jianghuang (Curcumae Longae Rhizoma), exhibiting pharmacological effects such as antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and metabolic regulation properties. Existing research indicates that curcumin demonstrates broad biological potential in fields including tumor diseases, inflammatory diseases, and metabolic disorders. However, issues such as poor water solubility and low bioavailability during its pharmacokinetic processes—including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion—have limited further advancement in clinical applications. To address these limitations, researchers worldwide have employed novel delivery technologies such as polymeric nanoparticles, polymeric micelles, and nanoemulsions to enhance curcumin's solubility, stability, targeting efficiency, and bioavailability. This systematic review summarizes the latest advances in curcumin's pharmacology, clinical research, pharmacokinetics, and formulation development by analyzing databases including CNKI, PubMed, and Web of Science. It also discusses the clinical translation potential of novel delivery systems and their design strategies, providing a reference for further research and application of curcumin.

curcumin  /  pharmacokinetics  /  formulation development  /  antitumor  /  anti-inflammatory  /  antioxidant  /  metabolic regulation