The Real Spice Of Life

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Cardiovascular System

Question:
Can Curcumin help my cardiovascular system?
Answer:
Curcumin has been shown to control the (NF)-kappa B immune response, which contributes to the inflammation of the artery walls, which in turn causes the cholesterol plaque to form. Taking Curcumin regularly may protect the arteries.

Gallstones

Question:
I have gallstones, will Curcumin help?
Answer:
Curcumin increases the flow of bile from the liver and may help to prevent gallstones. If you already have gallstones however, there is a potential risk of flushing them into the bile duct and blocking it. Check with your doctor before taking Curcumin.

General Qustions

Question:
Is Curcumin the same thing as turmeric?
Answer:
No, Curcumin is extracted from turmeric, but it is only 4% by weight. The rest of the turmeric is just the flavour.

Question:
How do I choose the right brand?
Answer:
You need to choose the highest strength you can find, a minimum of 95% purity. Even then it needs to have Piperine added to help it absorb.

Question:
Why do I need such a strong formula?
Answer:
Curcumin is a powerful supplement, but unfortunately it is not well absorbed by the body, so it pays to use the high strength. The Piperine increases the absorbency by more than 100%.

Question:
Are there any side effects?
Answer:
Most people tolerate even very high doses. Occasionally people find it loosens the bowels, but this is usually overcome by taking them with food. There are certainly no harmful side effects.

Multiple Sclerosis

Question:
I have multiple sclerosis and have heard Curcumin can help. What does it do?
Answer:
MS is caused by toxins attacking the myelin sheath that covers the nerves. Scar tissue forms over the damage and interferes with the signal. Serrapeptase can help to remove the scar tissue and Curcumin stimulates a powerful antioxidant called glutathione, which help to protect the site whilst the healthy tissue is replenished.

Parkinson’s Disease

Question:
I have heard Curcumin may help Parkinson’s disease
Answer:
Research is in the early stages, but studies show that it may help prevent plaque in the brain that leads to Parkinson’s. Researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have shown in a laboratory model of Parkinson’s disease that Curcumin does protect cells from dying. “These results suggest that Curcumin is a potential candidate for inhibiting the oxidative damage that leads to Parkinson’s disease,” says Wanli Smith, Ph.D., an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Hopkins.

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  ]]> http://www.curcuminhealth.info/other-health-sites/health-sites/feed/ 0 http://www.curcuminhealth.info/article/curcumin-update/ http://www.curcuminhealth.info/article/curcumin-update/#comments Wed, 04 May 2011 06:59:49 +0000 Pedro Alvarez http://curcuminhealth.info/?p=256 New Research on the Multiple Benefits of this Potent Health-Promoting, Disease-Fighting Agent
By Dale Kiefer

From powerful heart medications and antibiotics to simple aspirin, many modern pharmaceuticals have been derived directly from ancient plant and fungal sources that exhibit remarkable abilities to improve well being and intervene in disease processes at the molecular level. Scientists continue to discover medically useful plant compounds that demonstrate powerful anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antibiotic, and anti-aging properties. Turmeric is a case in point. This tropical root delivers a smorgasbord of powerful health benefits. New research shows that turmeric—and its main bioactive compound, Curcumin—has the power to block inflammation, stop cancer, kill infectious microbes, and improve heart health.

Turmeric is perhaps most familiar as the star ingredient in powdered curry mixes. Curcumin, a group of polyphenolic plant pigments, is responsible for turmeric’s characteristic canary yellow colour. Curry is the signature seasoning and fragrant dish of the Indian subcontinent.

Modern Science Meets Ancient Faith

Modern scientists have examined these largely faith-based claims and have subjected them to rigorous testing over the last 50 years. Although few large-scale human trials have been completed, hundreds of experiments conducted by researchers around the globe have demonstrated Curcumin’s ability to halt or prevent certain types of cancer,1-20 stop inflammation, 21-26 improve cardiovascular health, 27-31 prevent cataracts, 32 kill or inhibit the toxic effects of certain microbes including fungi 33 and dangerous parasites, 34, 35 and protect, at least in the laboratory, against the damaging effects of heterocyclic amines (potentially carcinogenic compounds found in some cooked foods). 36 As one investigative team declared: “[Curcumin] has been proven to exhibit remarkable anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties.” 37

As if that were not enough, this hard-working spice shows promise as a potential treatment for multiple sclerosis, 38 and may ameliorate the damaging effects of long-term diabetes. 39 It is even being investigated as a topical treatment to speed diabetic wound healing. 37 Some researchers also have noted an exciting link between turmeric consumption and a dramatically decreased incidence of Alzheimer’s disease, an effect that may well be related to Curcumin’s ability to block signalling pathways that lead to inflammation. 40, 41

Cancer-Fighting Capabilities Documented Numerous studies published in peer-reviewed medical journals detail Curcumin’s ability to protect against cancer. In addition to its capacity to intervene in the initiation and growth of cancer cells and tumours—and to prevent their subsequent spread throughout the body by metastasis—Curcumin also has been shown to increase cancer cells’ sensitivity to certain drugs commonly used to combat cancer, rendering chemotherapy more effective in some cases. 1-20 much research has focused on Curcumin’s anti-inflammatory properties, and some new research suggests that Curcumin may protect the heart and circulatory system, 21-31 and prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. 40, 41 Still other studies have examined Curcumin’s potential ability to counteract the effects of fungal toxins in the food supply, 33 and to protect the eyes from cataracts 32 and uveitis, 42 an inflammation of a portion of the eye that may result in glaucoma.

Turmeric Patent Granted and Revoked

Several years ago, two expatriate Indians associated with the University of Mississippi Medical Center filed for a US patent on turmeric. The patent was granted in 1995, but after an outcry from an Indian agriculture group, it was promptly revoked.

Fifty protesters challenged the patent’s validity on the grounds that turmeric is a previously available product that has been used medicinally in Asia for centuries. Since “novelty” is a condition of patent protection, it was determined that turmeric is not subject to such protection. The patent was revoked.

As an anticancer agent, Curcumin is promising enough to warrant serious attention from the National Cancer Institute (NCI). In its 2002 annual report, the Chemo preventive Agent Development Research Group, a subset of the NCI’s Division of Cancer Prevention, details its efforts to encourage and support research on Curcumin’s utility in cancer prevention and treatment. Because Curcumin is a non-patentable product (see sidebar), such support is crucial, especially for research involving all-important human trials, as other sources of funding are virtually nonexistent. At least one human trial, focusing on dosing, bioavailability, and pharmacokinetics (how Curcumin is used, metabolized, and eliminated by the body), is under way at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Centre. Other Curcumin studies have been proposed to the NIC and are awaiting approval.

Test-tube and animal-model studies have demonstrated that Curcumin exhibits significant anti-cancer activity. Numerous experiments have shown that Curcumin inhibits the progression of chemically induced colon and skin cancers. In colon cancer, in particular, Curcumin seems to significantly inhibit both the promotional and progression stages of the disease. Various studies have reported that Curcumin reduces the number and size of existing tumours, and decreases the incidence of new tumour formation.

Much discussion lately has focused on the use of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors—such as the prescription medications Celebrex® and Vioxx®—as potential colon cancer preventive agents. This new approach arose from the observation that people who routinely take anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drugs (NSAIDs) are statistically less likely to develop cancer than those who do not. Unfortunately, NSAIDs are poorly tolerated by some and can even cause bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract. Regarding Curcumin’s potential benefits for the prevention and treatment of colon cancer, one research team commented: “Naturally occurring COX-2 inhibitors such as Curcumin and certain phytosterols have been proven to be effective as chemo preventive agents against colon carcinogenesis with minimal gastrointestinal toxicity.” 18

Additionally, other studies using cancer cells grown in the laboratory in vitro have demonstrated Curcumin’s ability to prompt apoptosis, or programmed cell death, among leukaemia, B lymphoma, and other cancerous cells. Curcumin has been used as a topical application to successfully induce apoptosis in skin cancer cells both in vitro and in animal models. Curcumin is under investigation as a preventive agent for increasingly common non-melanoma skin cancers, and as a potential preventive or treatment agent in breast, prostate, oral, pancreatic, and gastric cancers, among others. 1-21 One researcher understated the matter, noting, “…Curcumin…should be considered for further development as [a] cancer preventive agent.” 43

Curcumin also has been shown to enhance the effectiveness of certain anti-cancer drugs, and, amazingly, to potentially improve the effectiveness of anti-cancer radiation treatment by preventing tumour cells from developing radiation resistance. 33 Protein kinase C (PKC) has been suggested as a possible mechanism by which tumour cells develop resistance to radiation therapy.

Curcumin’s helpful effect may be due to its ability to inhibit radiation-induced PKC activity. Additionally, one study found that Curcumin protected study animals from the tumour-producing effects of deadly gamma radiation, 44 while another found that it protects against damaging ultraviolet light, which is known to play a role in the development of skin cancer. 8

Earlier this year, researchers at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Centre declared: “…Curcumin has enormous potential in the prevention and treatment of cancer.” They noted that Curcumin has been found to be safe for human consumption, even in doses ranging as high as 10 grams per day.10 But other researchers have observed that more is not necessarily better. A recently published study out of India found that among rats fed a diet causing high blood sugar, those given low doses of Curcumin did not develop experimentally induced cataracts as often as control subjects. But rats receiving high doses of Curcumin actually developed cataracts somewhat faster, possibly due to increased oxidative stress. The difference in dosing was extreme, but these findings underscore the importance of further inquiry into the uses of Curcumin in humans for a variety of diseases and under a variety of conditions.

Contrary to the many remarkably encouraging reports on Curcumin’s anti-cancer benefits, at least one study reported that Curcumin interfered with, rather than potentiated, the effects of anti-cancer chemotherapy. 19 Another study found no significant therapeutic effect against prostate cancer, 20 a finding that stands in stark contrast to numerous other studies that have noted significant anti-prostate cancer activity by curcumin. 12,13 This lack of consensus has led some experts to caution against taking Curcumin during chemotherapy, except under an oncologist’s supervision.

Heart Health Benefits

Some of the most intriguing new research on Curcumin’s potential benefits involves its apparent ability to improve cardiovascular health. As with many of Curcumin’s protective actions, this ability to improve circulatory system function may be due to its powerful antioxidant activity. Late last year, several reports detailed Curcumin’s ability to protect test animals against a variety of conditions that model heart disease in humans.

Researchers in Egypt noted that Curcumin protected rats from oxidative stress injury following experimentally induced stroke. Stroke is a common result of thrombosis and/or atherosclerosis, which leads to clogging of the arteries that supply the brain with vital oxygen and nutrients. It is believed that such injury, known as ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) insult, is responsible for many of the deficits seen in stroke victims. Researchers concluded that Curcumin protected the rats from I/R damage. They noted that when Curcumin was administered at the highest levels, injury-related oxidants, believed to be responsible for the majority of I/R damage, were significantly reduced. 46

Among the Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) whose levels or activities were reduced by Curcumin were xanthine oxidase, superoxide anion, malondialdehyde, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and lactate dehydrogenase. As most readers of Life Extension already know, scientists attribute many of the undesirable effects of aging to the rogue activities of damaging free radicals, and antioxidants are crucial for their control. As noted previously, Curcumin is a powerful antioxidant and many of its beneficial effects may be directly related to its ability to scavenge and neutralize these ROS.

Positive Effects on Cholesterol

In laboratory tests on animals and in vitro, scientists have shown that Curcumin prevents lipid peroxidation and the oxidation of cellular and sub cellular membranes that are associated with atherosclerosis. 27,28,30,31,47 Moreover, Curcumin acts to lower total cholesterol levels. Perhaps even more important, it prevents peroxidation of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. LDL peroxidation plays a key role in the development of atherosclerosis, so it follows that a substance that inhibits peroxidation should benefit cardiovascular health.

Atherosclerosis is a common disorder associated with aging, diabetes, obesity, and a diet high in saturated fat. It begins gradually, as cholesterol and other lipids deposit on arterial walls and form damaging plaques. Oxidized lipids are suspected of playing a particularly damaging role in the progression of atherosclerosis. As plaques grow, vessel walls may eventually thicken and stiffen, restricting blood flow to target organs and tissues. Atherosclerosis is a major cause of heart disease and may also lead to stroke. When atherosclerotic plaques restrict blood flow to the heart, depriving cardiac muscle of vital oxygen and nutrients, coronary tissue dies. Angina and heart attack are the result. Since Curcumin is a naturally occurring, well-tolerated antioxidant that is capable of destroying the dangerous free radicals that lead to lipid peroxidation, it would appear that it holds enormous potential in the fight against heart disease.

Still more intriguing than its ability to limit peroxidation is the finding that Curcumin raises HDL (“good”) cholesterol levels, even as it reduces LDL levels. In a small study of human volunteers, researchers reported a highly significant 29% increase in HDL among subjects who consumed one-half gram (500 mg) of Curcumin per day for seven days. Subjects also experienced a decrease in total serum cholesterol of more than 11%, and a decrease in serum lipid peroxides of 33%. 48 Further human studies are needed, but these preliminary findings are promising. As one research team noted: “Administration of a nutritional dose of C. longa extracts [Curcumin]…may contribute to the prevention of effects caused by a diet high in fat and cholesterol in blood and liver during the development of atherosclerosis.” 27

Although scientific investigation into the therapeutic properties of Curcumin is ongoing, it seems clear that this plant pigment from a humble tuber has powerful healing potential. The data are occasionally conflicting, but it seems likely that adding Curcumin to one’s diet makes exceptionally good sense. Curcumin appears to prevent certain cancers, inhibit cardiovascular disease, and quell inflammation, and may even offer protection against Alzheimer’s disease. Because it has been consumed safely by millions of people literally for millennia, the choice to supplement one’s diet regularly with Curcumin would seem to be a no-brainer. One word of caution, however: the gut poorly absorbs Curcumin. Its absorption and bioavailability are significantly enhanced by the addition of an agent such as piperine, a natural alkaloid derived from black pepper. 49

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Actually, that crew already exists, working hard every hour to keep you healthy. It’s a force made up of cells called macrophages that have the capacity to attach to connective tissue or travel throughout the blood stream where they overwhelm microorganisms that can do you harm. And while macrophages are very effective at what they do, sometimes they need a little help.

Researchers at UCLA have produced evidence that a common spice might be just the help that microphages need to protect the brain from Alzheimer’s disease.

Crossing the barrier

Studies have shown that the active chemical in marijuana (THC) may help control the buildup of amyloid plaques in the brain that contribute to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Of course, THC has yet to be legalized for medicinal purposes, but there’s growing evidence that curcumin may also be an effective amyloid plaque inhibitor.

Curcumin is a yellow pigment in the root of turmeric. Curry gets its distinctive color and flavor from curcumin. But in addition to its culinary appeal, curcumin is a natural antioxidant and inflammatory that has been used by Indian Ayurvedic healers for thousands of years to treat indigestion, arthritis, and urinary tract disorders.

In a UCLA study, aging mice with advanced amyloid accumulation in the brain were injected with curcumin. Results showed that curcumin was able to cross the blood-brain barrier and bind to beta amyloid, which helped block amyloid plaque aggregation.

Clean up crew

In the September 2006 issue of the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, another UCLA team reported on a study that tested the effects of curcumin on AD.

STUDY ABSTRACT

• Researchers took macrophage samples from six AD patients and three healthy control subjects
• When macrophage samples were tested for their ability to bind with amyloid, uptake efficiency was found to be significantly lower in the AD samples, compared to the control samples
• Macrophage samples were then exposed to curcumin for 24 hours
• Amyloid uptake efficiency was significantly increased in half of the AD macrophage samples treated with curcumin
• Curcumin was more effective in macrophage samples taken from patients with early-stage AD
• Curcumin had no effect on macrophage samples from healthy subjects

UCLA researchers Laura Zhang told NutraIngredients-USA that the next step in their research will be it identify the factors that helped the immune cells respond. Meanwhile, the UCLA Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center has begun a clinical trial with human subjects to study the effect of curcumin supplements in AD patients.

Precautions

Alzheimer’s rates in India (where curcumin is widely consumed in curry dishes) are among the lowest in the world. But for most of us here in the west it’s not really practical to sharply increase our dietary intake of curry.

Curcumin supplements can be found in health food stores and through many Internet sources. But curcumin users should be aware of these precautions:

• Indigestion is one of the conditions curcumin is used to address, but large doses my cause ulcers in some patients
• Curcumin has been shown to lower cholesterol by prompting the liver to discharge bile, but this can be a problem for anyone with an obstruction of the biliary tract
• Curcumin thins the blood, so it should not be taken with anti-coagulants or anti-inflammatory drugs.

Talk to your doctor or a health care professional before taking curcumin supplements.

Sources:
“Curcuminoids Enhance Amyloid-B by Macrophages of Alzheimer’s Disease Patients” Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, Vol. 10, No. 1, September 2006, j-alz.com
“Curcumin Could Cut Plaque Build-Up Linked to Alzheimer’s” NutraIngredients-USA, 10/4/06, nutraingredients-usa.com

The study on rats has found that the substance that gives the spice turmeric its distinctive yellow colour, stopped the changes caused by excessive alcohol consumption that lead to liver disease.

The research, published in American Journal of Physiology – Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology, adds to the repertoire of benefits already shown by curcumin, which include anti-oxidant properties and anti-cancer activity. However, it does not mean that people eating curries can safely drink more alcohol, warns Kalle Jokelainen, one of the team of Finnish and American researchers.

“Curcumin is not harmful, and it may protect your liver from liver disease if you have very high amounts – but this has only been seen in rats,” he says.

For the study, the team gave rats fish oil with either ethanol or dextrose added for four weeks. The rats that also received doses of Curcumin did not develop the fatty livers, necrosis and inflammation seen in those not given the spice extract.

Furthermore, the doses used in the experiments were much greater than would ever be used in cooking with turmeric, he says. Alcoholic liver disease is a serious problem, he says, but the answer is to drink less.

Jokelainen, at Helsinki University Central Hospital, said that Curcumin somehow blocks the activation of a key molecule called nuclear factor kappa B (NFkB). This molecule directs the chain of events that leads to inflammation and death of tissue. It is activated by many stimuli including radiation, heat shock and endotoxins – the toxins associated with bacteria.

“If you drink too much, that leads to leaky gut syndrome,” Jokelainen told New Scientist. “Somehow endotoxins from the gut reach the blood and are carried to the liver. The liver is a filter and inactivates the endotoxin, but the price paid is that NFkB is activated.” (AN

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia and currently affects over 13 million people worldwide. The direct and indirect cost of Alzheimer care is over $100bn (€81bn) in the US alone. The direct cost of Alzheimer care in the UK was estimated at £15bn (€22bn).

Although the mechanism of Alzheimer’s is not clear, significant data exists supporting the build-up of plaque from beta-amyloid deposits. The new research appears to indicate that curcumin, the natural pigment that gives the spice turmeric its yellow colour, could help the body’s immune system clear away these deposits and reduce the risk of developing the disease.

“Curcumin improved ingestion of amyloid beta by immune cells in 50 percent of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. These initial findings demonstrate that curcumin may help boost the immune system of specific Alzheimer’s disease patients,” said Dr Milan Fiala from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

Curcumin has increasingly come under the scientific spotlight in recent years, with studies investigating its potential benefits for reducing cholesterol levels, improving cardiovascular health and cancer-fighting abilities.

The research, published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease (Vol. 10, pp. 1-7), adds to this by reporting on a small laboratory study using blood from six Alzheimer’s disease patients (aged 65 to 84) and three healthy controls. The focus was on macrophages, the ‘foot soldiers’ of the immune system that clean up harmful waste products in the body, including beta-amyloid deposits.

The isolated macrophages were exposed to a curcumin-derived compound (provided by phytonutrient manufacturer Sabinsa Corporation) for 24 hours and then introduced beta-amyloid. It was found that macrophages from three out of six Alzheimer’s disease patients showed improved uptake or ingestion of the waste product compared to the patients’ macrophages not treated with curcumin.

The age of the patient and the stage of the Alzheimer’s disease appeared to be key factors in the effectiveness of the curcumin compound, report the researchers, with younger patients and patients with early-stage Alzheimer’s apparently more receptive to the benefits.

No effects were reported for the macrophages from the healthy controls when exposed the curcumin-derived compound.

“We are hopeful that these positive results in a test tube may translate to clinical use, but more studies need to be done before curcumin can be recommended,” said Fiala.

The mechanism behind these apparent effects is not clear and significant further study is needed to further examine the potential effects. Some caution is also warranted due to curcumin levels in some patients already being relatively high due to participation in another UCLA study.

“Our next step will be to identify the factors that helped these immune cells respond,” said co-researcher Laura Zhang from UCLA.

“Immunomodulation of the innate immune system by curcuminoids might be a safe approach to immune clearance of amyloidosis in Alzheimer’s Disease brain,” concluded the researchers.

The new study extends previous findings examining the neuroprotective effects of curcumin. Experts recommend however that consumers wishing to make use of curcumin’s properties consume it in supplement form rather than eating more curries, which tend to be rather high in fat in their Western form.

The study was funded by the Alzheimer’s Disease Association and private donors

September 20, 2006- Curcumin has been found to block activity of a hormone implicated in the development of colorectal cancer – results which contribute to a growing body of evidence pointing to the spice’s cancer-fighting potential.

Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB) worked with curcumin, the yellow pigment found in the curry spice turmeric, and cell cultures to link a gastrointestinal hormone to the production of an inflammatory protein that accelerates the growth of a variety of cancer cells. The study, entitled “Curcumin inhibits neurotensin-mediated interleukin-8 production and migration of HCT116 human colon cancer cells”, is published in this month’s issue of Clinical Cancer Research.

The anti-cancer effects of spices from curcumin to red chili pepper capsaicin have been consistently researched, but this new study hopes to open the possibility of gastrointentestinal cancer prevention and therapy involving the blocking of hormones.

Colorectal cancer accounts for nine per cent of new cancer cases every year worldwide. The highest incidence rates are in the developed world; Asia and Africa have the lowest rates, which calls into question diet-related factors.

“Our findings suggest that curcumin may be useful for colon cancer treatment, as well as potential colon cancer suppression, in cells that respond to this gastrointestinal hormone, neurotensin,” said senior author and director of UTMB’s Sealy Center for Cancer Cell Biology, Mark Evers. “About a third of all colorectal cancer cells have the receptor for neurotensin.”

The UTMB researchers found the gastrointestinal hormone neurotensin, which is generated in response to fat consumption, reduced production of IL-8, a potent inflammatory protein that accelerates the growth and spread of a variety of human cancer cells, including colorectal and pancreatic tumor cells.

“We found that in colon cancer cells, neurotensin increases not just the rate of growth but also other critical things, including cell migration and metastasis,” said Evers. “The fact that all that can be turned off by this natural product, curcumin, was really remarkable.”

According to the scientists involved, neurotensin’s influence depends on biochemical signaling pathways inside the cell. They claim their experiments showed curcumin diminished those signals and thereby decreased the production of IL-8. Experiments also showed neurotensin increased the migration of colorectal cancer cells, and that curcumin could suppress this migration — possibly reducing the ability of colorectal cancer to spread to other locations in the body.

Reference:

Xiaofu Wang et al. “Curcumin inhibits neurotensin-mediated interleukin-8 production and migration of HCT116 human colon cancer cells.” Clinical Cancer Research. Sep 15, 2006; 12 (18).

Curcumin, an ancient spice in the ginger family, also known as turmeric root, is gaining plenty of attention for its positive impact on a number of ailments. It is shining as an antioxidant, for example, as well as for its beneficial effects in prohibiting tumors, for its anti-inflammatory properties, and even for its ability to retard some of the progress of the virus that causes AIDS.

This sounds like a lot of claims for a seemingly unpretentious kitchen spice. But, in fact, curcumin’s use dates back to the time of Egyptian pharaohs and Indian rajas more than 6,000 years ago. A tall, stemless, perennial plant cultivated throughout the tropics, especially in India, China and Indonesia, turmeric is what gives curry its unique flavor and color.

But in addition to its kitchen uses, curcumin has been used by traditional medicine for liver disease (particularly jaundice), indigestion, urinary tract diseases, blood purification, inflamed joints (rheumatoid arthritis), insect bites, dermatological disorders and as an atherosclerosis preventative. Although the chemical structure of curcumin was determined in 1910, it was only during the mid 1970s and 1980s that the potential uses of curcuminoids in medicine began to be extensively studied.

For example, curcumin has demonstrated, in vivo, the ability to decrease total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels in serum, and to increase the beneficial HDL cholesterol. It inhibits platelet aggregation induced by arachidonic acid, adrenaline and collagen. Where lipid peroxidation was induced by carbon tetrachloride, curcumin significantly decreased the level of lipid peroxidation.

In one study, bile acid output was increased by nearly 100 percent. In another study of mice and hamsters that were fed a special diet to induce cholesterol gallstones, the incidence of cholesterol gallstones was reduced by curcumin.

(Since curcumin lowers cholesterol levels by increasing the flow of bile out of the liver, those with biliary tract obstruction should not use curcumin. Always take curcumin with food.)

Other studies have demonstrated curcumin’s positive impact against ulcers, hardening of the arteries, and in warding off harmful stomach bacteria. Let’s examine the science behind the claims.

Free Radicals do their damage with a sequence of changes resulting from an injury (burn, thermal shock, etc.), and ultimately oxidative stress from the depletion of antioxidant defense mechanisms. Curcuminoids, and other antioxidants, have the ability to merge with potential radical molecules, preventing free-radical formation.

An interesting benefit of turmeric and curcumin appears to be its significant antioxidant activity. To fully understand the antioxidant properties of curcuminoids, let’s begin with the role of oxygen in our body. The trade-offs for oxygen utilization (metabolism) in the body are oxygen by-products. They become waste that pollutes the body and causes damage to our DNA (genetic material which is the blueprint for the cells’ command center), proteins, lipids and other molecules in the cell.

Snaring Free Radicals

Even the defense of the body against foreign invasion, like microbial infection, involves a trade-off. These defense mechanisms naturally produce oxidants which can kill the invading bacteria, but may also cause injury to the body cells.

Other oxidants produced by the body are cytochrome enzymes, which are abundant in the lungs and liver. These organs protect the body against toxins entering from air, water and food. Outside influences, such as an excess of metals like iron and copper (and their salts), and oxidized fats, may generate oxidants in the body.

As a defense reaction, normal body functions generate oxidants such as superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radicals and lipid peroxides. Such oxidants are referred to as free radicals-”radical” (as opposed to the stable molecules), and “free” (to start a chain reaction in the body that will destabilize surrounding cells).

This process leads to tissue and organ degeneration that will eventually result in chronic inflammation, heart disease, accelerated aging and disorganized cell growth that may result in cancer. Antioxidants can stop free radical damage by either minimizing or preventing the oxidants’ initial formation, or by neutralizing the existing free radicals in the body.

The aging process exemplifies the cumulative result of free-radical damage to cells, tissues and organs. The body has built-in mechanisms for counteracting free radicals but, unfortunately, the aging process and disease gradually overwhelm the antioxidant defense reaction. Fortunately, some vitamins, minerals, herbs and their compounds such as phonemics, flavanoids and carotenoids, have the ability to scavenge or neutralize free radicals. Curcuminoids, for example, merge with these potential radical molecules and thus prevent free-radical formation.

Inflammation is known to be associated with increased levels of lipid peroxides and free radicals, which are generated by the liver as well as by inflamed tissues in the body. Animals fed curcumin showed decreased levels of lipid peroxides and subsequent reduction in the processes of inflammation. One study showed curcumin to be eight times more powerful that vitamin E in preventing lipid peroxidation. Taken in group arrangements such as C-complex, curcuminoids are three times as potent in neutralizing free-radical molecules.

In summary, the antioxidant mechanisms of curcuminoids may include one or more of the following interactions: They may intervene in oxidative attacks to restrict or prevent them from happening; scavenge or neutralize free radicals; and break the oxidative chain reaction caused by free radicals.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects

Curcuminoids inhibit enzymes which participate in the synthesis of inflammatory substances in the body. The natural anti-inflammatory activity of curcuminoids is comparable in strength to steroidal drugs, and such nonsteroidal drugs as indomethacin and phenylbutazone, which have dangerous side effects.

Inflammation results from a complex series of actions and/or reactions triggered by the body’s immunological response to tissue damage. This damage may be caused by physical traumas including various diseases and surgery. Moderate inflammation is necessary for the healing process; however, continuous inflammation leads to chronic conditions like arthritis and its associated pain. In a double-blind, controlled study, three groups of patients received either curcumin (400 mg), the anti-inflammatory prescription drug phenylbutazone (100 mg), or a placebo (250 mg of lactose powder) three times daily for five consecutive days after surgery. They had been admitted for either a hernia condition or an accumulation of fluid in the scrotum. The results: curcumin was just as effective as phenylbutazone in reducing post-operative inflammation.

Curcuminoids prevent the synthesis of several inflammatory prostaglandins and leukotrienes. When the anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin were tested in a double-blind clinical trial in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, curcumin produced significant improvement in all patients, and again the therapeutic effects were comparable to those obtained with phenylbutazone.

Further, oral administration of curcumin to rats, at a dose of 3 mg per kilogram of body weight, and sodium curcumin at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg, inhibited formalin-induced arthritis in the animals. In fact, curcumin once again was comparatively as effective as phenylbutazone in this application. In a double-blind trial in 49 patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, when curcumin was given at a dose of 1,200 mg per day for five to six weeks, there was an overall improvement in morning stiffness and physical endurance; this yielded comparable effects to those obtained with phenylbutazone.

Other inflammation-related illnesses? Patients with chronic respiratory disorders experience significant relief in symptoms such as cough and shortness of breath. Eye drops of a turmeric mixture were administered in 25 cases of bacterial conjunctivitis, an inflammatory condition of the eye. Symptoms such as eye redness or a burning sensation began subsiding after the third day of treatment. During the six-day treatment period, it was determined that 23 of the 25 patients were relieved of all symptoms.

Curcumin has a similar action to aspirin. However, unlike aspirin curcumin inhibits synthesis of inflammatory prostaglandins, but does not affect the synthesis of prostacyclin, an important factor in preventing vascular thrombosis. Any drug that affects its synthesis (especially when used in large doses) may increase the risk of this dangerous condition. Curcumin may therefore be preferable for patients who are prone to vascular thrombosis and require anti-inflammatory and/or anti-arthritic therapy.

In a recent study, cats exposed to myocardial ischemia-reduced blood flow in the heart tissues, a condition resulting from the consequences of a heart attack, were evaluated using curcumin and quinidine, a standard antiarrhythmic drug. Both of the substances protected the animals against a decrease in heart rate and blood pressure following restricted blood flow to the heart.

Curcumin and AIDS

Therapy for an immune system disease such as HIV infection, which causes AIDS, is currently being approached in two different ways:

1. The attempt to restore the immune system’s ability to defend the body using a biological response modifier; and
2. Through ongoing efforts to develop a vaccine against the HIV infection, which so far has been unsuccessful.

Curcumin inhibits the HIV-1 integrase protein. Therefore, this integrase inhibition may contribute to the anti-HIV activity of curcumin, which currently is in clinical trials for AIDS patients. Here is some AIDS background as to why curcumin may have this benefit:
CD-4 and CD-8 cells are acronyms for the immune cells called T-lymphocytes, which are responsible for some of the most sophisticated activity of the immune system. The T-lymphocytes function to regulate the entire immune response. With regard to this regulatory function, the T-lymphocytes can be divided into T-helpers and T-suppressors. The T-helpers stimulate the immune response to provide protection against invading microorganisms.

The function of T-suppressors is to stop this action when appropriate-for example, at the point at which infection has been overcome-in order to avoid excessive immune system activity being turned against the body itself. Balanced interaction between T-helper and T-suppressor cells represents self-regulation of the immune response. Self-regulation is regarded as the most crucial aspect of this response.

In HIV infection and AIDS, T-helpers cells become a primary target of the infection, becoming increasingly incapacitated and destroyed by the virus. The current definition of AIDS includes HIV infection with T-helper (CD-4) cell counts lower than 200 per ml of blood. This immune system is usually unable to defend the body against various viral, bacterial and parasitic infections. The microorganisms take advantage of the weakened defense system and invade the body; hence those infections are referred to as opportunistic infections.

HIV cannot live without being fully integrated in the live body cell. The enzyme integrase facilitates integration of the virus genetic material with the genetic material in the cell. The genetic material of the cell begins to serve the virus, not the cell.

Now, here is the potential payoff: curcumin was found to inhibit the activity of integrase, potentially preventing HIV from finding a home in CD-4 and CD-8 cells.

In a study, the administration of 2,000 mg of curcumin given to 18 HIV-infected patients for approximately 20 weeks resulted in a significant increase in the CD-4 and CD-8 cell counts, as compared with the placebo-receiving patients. The CD-4 cell count before the treatment ranged from 5 to 615 cells per ml of blood, and the respective range after treatment was 283 to 1,467 cells/ml of blood.

Other Protective Properties

Diets supplemented with curcuminoids protect the integrity of biomolecules in the body. Preventing the deterioration of food, and keeping nutrients in tissues from degenerating, appear to be closely related. For example, the properties in turmeric which prevent meat from becoming rancid help to provide edible animal protein that contains less oxidized fat or free radicals. When this type of food is ingested, it supplies clean nutrients rather than free radical-damaged nutrients.

The same attributes of turmeric that preserve the freshness of food may also protect living tissue from degenerative disease. Feeding curcuminoids to laboratory animals resulted in elevated levels of the enzyme glutathione S-transferase, an important index of the efficiency of detoxification.

For centuries, turmeric has been used as a food additive, a medicinal agent and a dye for cosmetics and fabrics without manifesting side effects. This record of safety has been one of the deciding factors that allowed the Food and Agricultural Organization and the World Health Organization expert committee on food additives to approve curcuminoids as natural food coloring agents