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Curcumin (Turmeric) |
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What is Curcumin (Turmeric): |
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Curcumin is the main medicinally active substance derived from turmeric or Curcuma species. Turmeric is a common curry spice used in the Indian sub-continent that is used as a preservative, dye for textiles,in addition to its numerous medical benefits. Curcumin forms 2-5% of turmeric and is responsible for the yellow color of turmeric. Hence, turmeric is called 'Indian Saffron' and curcumin is aptly known as 'Indian solid gold'.
Owing to it's extensive medicinal properties, curcumin is the first line of Indian household medication for wounds, injuries, gastrointestinal problems, cold and cough, fevers, skin infections and liver disorders. It is an analgesic, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-malarial, anti-tumor, anti-arthritic, and anti-ischemic, as well as an insect repellant. The role of curcumin in cancers is a topic of current research. The anti-oxidant properties of curcumin are also being extensively studied to neutralize the body's imbalances during an infection.
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History of Curcumin (Turmeric): |
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Curcumin was first isolated from turmeric in 1850, and its structure determined in 1910. Ayurveda, the traditional system of Indian medicine since 1900 BC describes use of curcumin to treat a wide range of diseases including: skin infections, respiratory and gastrointestinal problems, pains and body aches, wounds, and liver disorders. Extensive research during the last half century has provided enough evidence to support these traditional medically acclaimed benefits of curcumin.
Turmeric was also mentioned by Marco Polo in his writings, having visited China and India in 1280. Turmeric was introduced to Europe by Arab traders in the thirteenth century. During his visit to India in the fifteenth century, Vasco da Gama later introduced turmeric to the British. Traditional Indian and Chinese folklore medical systems listed the benefits of curcumin in treating gas, colic and enteric infections, toothaches, chest pains, and menstrual difficulties.
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Benefits of Curcumin (Turmeric): |
Inflammation forms the basis of many diseases and infections. The anti-inflammatory activity of curcumin is a well established fact. Curcumin acts by blocking the synthesis of specific molecules, called eicosanoids, in the body that send signals to nervous and immune system that leads to inflammation. Moreover, curcumin also suppresses the activity of many enzymes and factors involved in the process of inflammation. This anti-inflammatory signaling mechanism of curcumin is useful in treating many inflammatory diseases like pancreatitis, arthritis, colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, gastritis, allergy, and fever; along with other chronic diseases like diabetes, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, and scleroderma.
Steroids are probably the best anti-inflammatory agents available - though they are associated with severe side-effects. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents also tend to have severe side-effects. Moreover, these agents do not play a role in preventative medicine. Curcumin on the other hand, has very few side effects. More importantly, curcumin can be used regularly as a preventive measure against infections and diseases without harming or disturbing the body's metabolism.
While pro-oxidants create an imbalance in the body and promote a diseased state, anti-oxidants work at maintaining a healthy bodily balance. Curcumin is a very potent anti-oxidant and free radical scavenger. Diseased and infectious states of the body produce many free radicals and ions that disturb the body's metabolism and increase its level of toxicity. Curcumin scavenges these toxic free radicals, aiding in the restoration of metabolic balance. The anti-oxidant abilities of curcumin is further enhanced by its anti-inflammatory capabilities.
Curcumin is also believed to be a very potent anti-cancerous agent. Much of modern day research about curcumin is related to its anti-tumor propertiies. There are many ways in which curcumin exerts anti-tumor effects. Curcumin stimulates production of reactive oxygen species (free oxygen ions that are toxic to the cell) specifically in tumor cells, which in turn, leads to tumor cell death. Curcumin also prevents angiogenesis of tumor cells. Angiogenesis is the vascularization of tissues and is a key factor for the growth and proliferation of tumor cells. By activating many enzymes and factors in the body, curcumin prevents the proliferation and spreading of cancerous cells to other parts of the body.
Curcumin is also a potent chemoprotective agent of cancers. It is effective against many types of cancers including: skin, oral, esophageal, intestinal, colonic, mammary gland, brain, breast, lung, pancreas, blood and bone marrow, liver, prostate and ovarian cancers. This anti-cancerous effect of curcumin is due to its ability to suppress tumor-inducing genes and other tumor-promoting factors. By blocking substances that are necessary for cell adhesion, curcumin prevents progression and movement of tumors to other parts of the body, thus preventing tumor proliferation. The anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin further enhances its anti-tumor capabilities.
Curcumin has also been shown to be very effective in treating diabetes mellitus type II. Insulin resistance is one of the characteristic features of diabetes mellitus type II. Specific growth factors in the body are responsible for development of resistance to insulin. Curcumin acts by blocking the activity of these growth factors, leading to a reversal of insulin resistance in diabetic patients.
Curcumin has also been widely implicated in treating cardiovascular diseases. Curcumin has the ability to lower bad cholesterol and promote good cholesterol in the body. By preventing accumulation of bad cholesterol in arteries, curcumin prevents blockage of arteries and heart valves, which reduces the incidence and risk of strokes.
Curcumin prevents clot formation and platelet aggregation, which gives it a blood-thinning effct. This anti-coagulation effect (along with its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties) work to protect the cardiovascular system.
Curcumin has anti-microbial and anti-parasitic properties and has been used in the treatment of malaria (parasitic infection), leishmaniasis (amoebal infection), helminthic (intestinal worm) infection, and some sexually transmitted diseases.
Curcumin's other purported uses include its use as an: anti-depressant, a, anti-venomic, and anti-spasmodic. Curcumin has also been used to treat thyroid disorders.
Curcumin may be used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia due to degeneration of brain cells with age. The characteristic feature of this disease is the formation of specific aggregates in the brain called plaques. Curcumin has been shown to disintegrate and break up these plaques and prevent aggregation of newer plaques. Hence, curcumin as a possible treatment for Alzheimer's disease makes it a valuable candidate for further study.
Research on this subject:
Aggarwal BB, Kumar A, Bharti AC. Anti-cancer potential of curcumin: Pre-clinical and clinical studies. Anticancer Res. 2003;23(1A):363-98.
Aggarwal BB, Shishodia S. Molecular targets of dietary agents for prevention and therapy of cancer. Biochemical Pharmacology. 2006;71(10):1397–421.
Anand P, Kunnumakkara AB, Newman RA, Aggarwal BB. Bioavailability of curcumin: problems and promises. Molecular Pharmaceutics. 2007;4(6):807–18.
Bala K, Tripathy BC, Sharma D. Neuroprotective and anti-ageing effects of curcumin in aged rat brain regions. Biogerontology. 2006;7:81.
Funk JL, Frye JB, Oyarzo JN, et al. Efficacy and mechanism of action of turmeric supplements in the treatment of experimental arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54(11):3452-64.
Kutluay SB, Doroghazi J, Roemer ME, Triezenberg SJ. Curcumin inhibits herpes simplex virus immediate-early gene expression by a mechanism independent of p300/CBP histone acetyltransferase activity. Virology. 2008;373:239.
Srivastava KC, Bordia A, Verma SK. Curcumin, a major component of the food spice turmeric (Curcuma longa), inhibits aggregation and alters eicosanoid metabolism in human blood platelets. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 1995;52(4):223–7.
Yang F, Lim GP, Begum AN, et al. Curcumin inhibits formation of amyloid beta oligomers and fibrils, binds plaques, and reduces amyloid in vivo. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2005;280(7):5892–901.
www.cancerwise.org
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Sources and Forms of Curcumin (Turmeric): |
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Curcumin is derived Curcuma longa and other Curcuma species. The underground stem is dried and used as turmeric. Turmeric is then powdered to be used as a dye or preservative or for medical use. Curcumin is the major chemical substance present in turmeric. The European Union code for curcumin as a food additive or coloring agent in foods is E100. In the US, Curcumin is considered a food and/or supplement.
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Recommended Dosage of Curcumin (Turmeric): |
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Phase I clinical trials have shown that about 12 g of curcumin daily, for a period of 3 months, is well tolerated. Moreover, serum levels and tissue concentrations of curcumin are very low, suggesting its safe pharmacological use.
In one study, 500 mg of curcumin taken every day for 10 days was shown to successfully lower cholesterol levels.
Smokers taking 1 teaspoon of curcumin every day for a month drastically decreased the amount of carcinogens present in their urine.
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Safety and Side Effects of Curcumin (Turmeric): |
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Curcumin is generally safe up to 2 grams. Ranges of 2 grams or more can lead to nausea and diarrhea. Research suggests that at large concentrations (2 grams to 12 grams or more), curcumin may lose its anti-oxidant and anti-cancerous effects, though more evidence is needed to further substantiate these findings. Curcumin is not recommended for women who are pregnant, or for those with gallstones.
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Frequently Asked Questions on Curcumin (Turmeric): |
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How valuable is curcumin medicinally?
Curcumin has been a part of traditional Indian and Chinese medicine for the past two decades. Curcumin plays an important role in preventive medicine and has been gaining lot of attention these days.
As a natural plant product with almost no side effects and the ability to treat a wide range of diseases - curcumin is an ideal drug. Curcumin has been known to successfully treat fevers, colds, intestinal infections, respiratory problems, skin infections, sexually transmitted diseases, mental health disorders, cancers, Alzheimer's disease, psoriasis, hemorrhage, viral infections, cardiovascular disease, inflammation and pain, slow-healing wounds, and liver disorders. The main action of curcumin is through the inhibition of harmful proteins and enzymes, while promoting useful ones, leading to its ability to prevent and/or cure many known diseases and restoring the body's full metabolic balance.
Can curcumin treat or cure cancer?
Curcumin is very helpful in treating many types of cancers. Studies with animal models have shown that curcumin prevents intiation, progression and angiogenesis of tumors. Curcumin acts by inhibiting or down-regulating many factors and enzymes involved in the promotion of cancers. Curcumin can also be safely used simultaneously with chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Phase II clinical trials at the MD Anderson's Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, University of Texas, conducted by Dr Kuzrock on 25 patients showed positive results and more importantly, without any side effects. All these patients with pancreatic cancers, were orally administered upto 8 grams of curcumin daily for 2 months. In one of the patients, a 73% decrease in tumor size was observed, though it grew back soon after. This is attributed to the fact that a clone of cancer cells exist that are resistant to curcumin. Two other patients had no tumor growth for a significant period (one for 8 months and another for almost 2.5 years).
How useful is curcumin in treating arthritis?
Arthritis is an inflammatory disease. Curcumin is known for its strong and powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Also, curcumin inhibits factors in the body that promote inflammation. Research has shown that oral administration or even topical application of curcumin has been successful in treating arthritis.
Studies by Funk et al., at the University if Arizona, Tucson on female rats showed that curcumin significantly reduced inflammation in joints and improved overall joint health in a dose-dependant manner. Anti-cancer studies of curcumin in humans conducted by Dr Aggarwal and co-workers at the M D Anderson Cancer Centre have shown that there is no dose-dependant toxicity in humans, even when administered 10 grams of curcumin per day.
Does curcumin help in treating/preventing HIV infections?
Curcumin binds to certain enzymes that are necessary for replication and survival of human viruses like HIV. By doing so, curcumin prevents the virus from propagating inside the human body, thus preventing the progression of HIV/viral infections.
Clinical trial studies regarding anti-HIV properties of curcumin are still under development. However, an unpublished report on a study conducted by Dr. Winters and colleagues shows that curcumin is partially successful in the prevention and treatment of HIV infections. Out of 19 subjects involved in this study, 11 fully completed the study. Each volunteer was placed on a regimen of 2.56 grams of curcumin daily (orally) for 20 weeks. A 20-fold drop in viral load was observed between 4-8 weeks of treatment. This study did not have a control group and hence, conclusions about the anti-HIV role of curcumin cannot be made at this time. A larger scale study needs to be developed.
Since this is an unpublished study, more information can be obtained by sending a self-addressed and stamped envelope to: AIDS Treatment News, P.O. Box 411256, San Francisco, CA 94141 - or by calling (415)255-0588.
Is curcumin tolerance related to sensitivity to other spices?
To date there are very few reports about sensitivity to curcumin. Very rarely, an individual might develop an allergic reaction to curcumin on contact. While hypersensitivity to spices is common, and curcumin is also a component of almost all spice mixtures - hypersensitivity to curcumin may proliferate. So far only a handful of urticaria ("hives" - an allergic symptom presenting on skin) cases due to curcumin contact have been reported. However, keeping in mind the more common sensitivity to spices among a population, sensitivity to curcumin might not be ruled out.
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Additional Research on Curcumin (Turmeric): |
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Curcumin and Arthritis
Capini C, Jaturanpinyo M, Chang HI, et al. Antigen-specific suppression of inflammatory arthritis using liposomes. J Immunol. 2009 Mar 15;182(6):3556-65.
Pari L , Tewas D, Eckel J. Role of curcumin in health and disease. Arch Physiol Biochem. 2008 Apr;114(2):127-49.
Park C, Moon DO, Choi IW, et al. Curcumin induces apoptosis and inhibits prostaglandin E(2) production in synovial fibroblasts of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Int J Mol Med. 2007 Sep;20(3):365-72.
Curcumin and HIV Prevention/Treatment
Conteas CN, Panossian AM, Tran TT, Singh HM. Treatment of HIV-Associated Diarrhea with Curcumin. Dig Dis Sci. 2008 Dec 3.
Rai D, Yadav D, Balzarini J, De Clercq E, Singh RK. Design and development of curcumin bioconjugates as antiviral agents. Nucleic Acids Symp Ser (Oxf). 2008;(52):599-600.
Riva DA, Fernandez-Larrosa PN, Dolcinini GL, et al. Two immunomodulators, curcumin and sulfasalazine, enhance IDV antiretroviral activity in HIV-1 persistently infected cells. Arch Virol. 2008;153(3):561-5.
Talwar GP, Dar SA, Rai MK, et al. A novel polyherbal microbicide with inhibitory effect on bacterial, fungal and viral gential pathogens. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2008 Aug;32(2):180-5.
Curcumin and Cancer
Cen L, Hutzen B, Ball S, et al. New structural analogues of curcumin exhibit porten growth suppressive activity in human colorectal carcinoma cells. BMC Cancer. 2009 Mar 30;9(1):99.
Kim W, Fan YY, Smith R, et al. Dietary Curcumin and Limonin Suppress CD4 T-Cell Proliferation and Interleukin-2 Production in Mice. J Nutr. 2009 Mar 25.
Labbozzetta M, Notarbartolo M, Poma P, et al. Curcumin as a possible lead compound against hormone-independent, multidrug-resistant breast cancer. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2009 Feb;1115:278-83.
Lin YT, Wan LF, Hsu YC. Curcuminoids Suppress the Growth of Pharynx and Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cells through Induced Apoptosis. J Agric Food Chem. 2009 Mar 24.
Manoharan S, Balakrishnan S, Menon VP, Alias LM, Reena AR. Chemopreventive efficacy of curcumin and piperine during 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis. Singapore Med J. 2009 Feb;50(2):139-46.
Narayanan NK, Nargi D. Randolph C, Narayanan BA. Liposome encapsulation of curcumin and resveratrol in combination reduces prostate cancer incidence in PTEN knockout mice. Int J Cancer. 2009 Feb 6.
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