A method of making curcuminoids in a mammalian cell. The method of making a curcuminoid in a mammalian cell includes expressing one or more enzymes in the mammalian cell, the enzymes being selected from the group consisting of tyrosine ammonia lyase (TAL), 4-coumaroyl-CoA ligase (4CL1), curcuminoid synthase (CUS), diketide-CoA synthase (DCS), curcumin synthase (CURS1), 4-coumarate 3-hydroxylase (C3H), caffeoyl-CoA 3-O-methyltransferase (CCoAMT), and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC). The expressing of the one or more enzymes converts a starting material, such as tyrosine or ferulic acid, to the curcuminoid. Also provided herein are therapeutic uses for the curcuminoid made in a mammalian cell.