Inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH), a rate-limiting enzyme in the de novo synthesis of guanine nucleotides, is a therapeutic target for anticancer and antiviral agents. Among the 15 different polyphenols examined, curcumin was found to have an inhibitory effect on the IMPDH activity in both a competitive and uncompetitive manner and to suppress the cellular GTP level in HT-29 colon carcinoma cells.
