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Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Education and ResearchNOW IN
Article

Combating Neuroinflammation and Neurotoxicity with Curcumin-Piperine Nanoformulations

Mohammad Zubair Alam1,2, Hala Abubaker Bagabir3, Mohammad Alameen Faisal Zaher4, Thamer Mohammed Ahmed Alqurashi5, Badrah Saeed Alghamdi1,6, Mohsin Kazi7, Athanasios Alexiou8,9, Ghulam Md Ashraf10★★ Corresponding author

  1. 1Neuroscience and Geroscience Research Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, SAUDI ARABIA.
  2. 2Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, SAUDI ARABIA.
  3. 3Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Rabigh Campus, Rabigh, SAUDI ARABIA.
  4. 4Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, SAUDI ARABIA.
  5. 5Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Rabigh Campus, Rabigh, SAUDI ARABIA.
  6. 6Department of Physiology, Neuroscience Unit, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, SAUDI ARABIA.
  7. 7Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA.
  8. 8University Centre for Research & Development, Chandigarh University, Mohali, Punjab, INDIA.
  9. 9Department of Research & Development, Funogen, Athens, GREECE.
  10. 10Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES.

CORRESPONDENCE

Ghulam Md Ashraf

Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES.

dr.ashraf@gmu.ac.ae

Received: 21-05-2026; Revised: 08-06-2026; Accepted: 17-07-2026.

Volume 60, Issue 4S · pp. s1580–s1593 · PUBLISHED 2026 · DOI: 10.5530/ijper.20262042

View on IJPER original site ↗

ABSTRACT

Background: Neuroinflammation plays a critical role in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's disease. The Cuprizone (CPZ)- induced model is widely used to study neuroinflammatory mechanisms, as it selectively targets oligodendrocytes, causing demyelination and oxidative stress. Objectives: This study investigates the neuroprotective effects of curcumin nanoformulations prepared in Zanthoxylum rhetsa seed oil against CPZ-induced neurotoxicity in Swiss albino mice. Materials and Methods: The study assessed antioxidative enzyme activities and inflammatory markers, including catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, GFAP, MCP-1, MIP-1, and CCL-5. Results: The results indicated that CPZ exposure significantly reduced catalase and SOD levels while increasing oxidative stress markers such as Malondialdehyde (MDA) and inflammatory cytokines. The administration of curcumin nanoformulations demonstrated substantial neuroprotection by restoring antioxidative enzyme levels, reducing inflammation, and mitigating myelin degradation. Notably, the combination of curcumin with Piperine (PFZ) exhibited the highest neuroprotective potential, as it significantly enhanced catalase and SOD activity while suppressing inflammatory markers like TNFα and GFAP. Furthermore, PFZ-treated mice displayed improved Myelin Basic Protein (MBP) levels, indicating enhanced remyelination. Conclusion: The findings suggest that curcumin-based nanoformulations, particularly those combined with piperine, hold promise as therapeutic strategies for mitigating neuroinflammation and oxidative damage associated with demyelination. These results provide valuable insights into the potential of plant-derived antioxidants in treating neurodegenerative conditions.

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    Alam, M. Z., Bagabir, H. A., Zaher, M. A. F., Alqurashi, T. M. A., Alghamdi, B. S., Kazi, M., Alexiou, A., & Ashraf, G. M. (2026). Combating Neuroinflammation and Neurotoxicity with Curcumin-Piperine Nanoformulations. Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, 60(4S), s1580–s1593. https://doi.org/10.5530/ijper.20262042