The chemical structure of curcumin, containing two alpha-beta unsaturated ketones, mediates a Michael addition reaction that can generate reactive oxygen species, irreversibly modify antioxidant enzyme thioredoxin reductase, induce topoisomerase II-mediated DNA damage, and inactivate the tumor suppressor gene p53.

“there is a chemical structure in curcumin the presence of two alpha beta unsaturated ketones in the chemical structure of curcumin that mediates something um that may be problematic called a michael addition this reaction may explain for instance why curcumin generates reactive oxygen species irreversibly by modifying the antioxidant enzyme thyroid oxen reductase why curcumin induces topoisomerase ii mediated dna damage and why curcumin inactivates the tumor suppressor gene p53”