Turmeric Spice Research Articles

Aromatization of olive oil with ginger and turmeric powder or extracts by the co‐processing and maceration methods

AbstractAromatized olive oils were prepared by the addition of ginger and turmeric spices and their combination (ginger + turmeric) with two different forms: powder and extracts. The spices were incorporated to olive paste at kneading stage (co‐processing) or directly to olive oil as infusion (maceration) (5% for powder, 3% for extract; w/w). Aromatization provided a lower peroxide value accompanied by a longer induction period, increased total phenolic content, and enhanced antioxidant activity. The use of turmeric as a powder may be advantageous for use in vegetable oils, especially because the bioactive antioxidant compounds it contains are hydrophobic. In another way, it was also the reason why the alcoholic extract of ginger gave more effective results than turmeric, which had a higher extraction yield than ginger. For both the co‐processing and maceration methods, ginger powder and extract induced the strongest radical scavenging activity in oil. The pungent taste was more marked in turmeric‐aromatized oils and spicy taste in ginger‐aromatized oils. The use of these two spices together incorporated the bioactive components into the oil while balancing the burning effect of ginger, making it more possible to benefit from its high antioxidant effect.Practical Applications: Aromatization of olive oil by maceration and co‐processing not only enriched it with bioactive components but also improved oxidative stability with quality indices such as free acidity and peroxide. In terms of quality indices and oxidative stability, maceration had advantages over co‐processing. However, co‐processing was more effective in terms of total phenolic and radical scavenging activity. At the industrial level, the incorporation of an aromatic material at one step of the process, that is, co‐processing or co‐milling, can be advantageous in terms of application without requiring extra time for the aromatization.

Enhancing the Bioavailability and Bioactivity of Curcumin for Disease Prevention and Treatment.

Curcumin, a natural polyphenolic component from Curcuma longa roots, is the main bioactive component of turmeric spice and has gained increasing interest due to its proposed anti-cancer, anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and lipid-lowering effects, in addition to its thermogenic capacity. While intake from dietary sources such as curry may be sufficient to affect the intestinal microbiome and thus may act indirectly, intact curcumin in the body may be too low (<1 microM) and not sufficient to affect signaling and gene expression, as observed in vitro with cultured cells (10-20 microM). Several strategies can be envisioned to increase curcumin levels in the body, such as decreasing its metabolism or increasing absorption through the formation of nanoparticles. However, since high curcumin levels could also lead to undesired regulatory effects on cellular signaling and gene expression, such studies may need to be carefully monitored. Here, we review the bioavailability of curcumin and to what extent increasing curcumin levels using nanoformulations may increase the bioavailability and bioactivity of curcumin and its metabolites. This enhancement could potentially amplify the disease-preventing effects of curcumin, often by leveraging its robust antioxidant properties.

Evaluation of the bioactivities of turmeric spices of different origins

Our study aimed to compare the in vitro bioactivities of turmeric spice samples obtained from three different sources (India, Pakistan, and Indonesia). Our study involved the determination of total phenolic and flavonoid content, in vitro antioxidant activities, tyrosinase enzyme activity, and antimicrobial activity (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans) analyses in three different spice samples. Each spice sample was dissolved in 250 mL of ethanol and stirred on a magnetic stirrer for 36 hours. After filtering out the solid parts, the residues were dissolved again in 250 mL of ethanol separately. This process was repeated three times. After the filtration steps, all filtrates were combined. The remaining solvents in the filtrate were evaporated using an evaporator. The residue of the extracts was placed in Eppendorf tubes and stored in a freezer until use. It has been determined that turmeric of Indian origin, with its high phenolic and flavonoid content, exhibits more potent antioxidant and antityrosinase effects than those from Indonesia and Pakistan. However, antimicrobial activity could not be detected within the studied concentration range of 10 µg/mL to 400 mg/mL.

Anticancer properties of curcumin-treated Lactobacillus plantarum against the HT-29 colorectal adenocarcinoma cells

Probiotic bacteria with functions of importance to the health and well-being of the host exhibit various medicinal properties including anti-proliferative properties against cancer cells. There are observations demonstrating probiotic bacteria and their metabolomics can be different in various populations with different eating habits. Here, Lactobacillus plantarum was treated with curcumin (the major compound of turmeric), and its resistance to the curcumin was determined. After then the cell-free supernatants of untreated bacteria (CFS) and bacteria treated with curcumin (cur-CFS) were isolated and their anti-proliferative properties against HT-29 colon cancer cells were compared. The ability of L. plantarum treated with curcumin to combat a variety of pathogenic bacterial species and its ability to survive in acidic conditions were evidence that the probiotic properties of the bacterium were unaffected by the curcumin treatment. L. plantarum treated with curcumin and intact L. plantarum were both able to live in acidic conditions, according to the results of the resistance to low pH test. The MTT result showed that CFS and cur-CFS dose-dependently decreased the growth of HT29 cells with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 181.7 and 116.3 µL/mL at 48 h, respectively. Morphological alteration of DAPI-stained cells also exhibited significant fragmentation in the chromatin within the nucleus of cur-CFS-treated cells compared to CFS-treated HT29 cells. Moreover, flow cytometry analyses of apoptosis and cell cycle confirmed DAPI staining and MTT assay results and stipulated the increased occurrence of programmed cell death (apoptosis) in cur-CFS-treated cells (~ 57.65%) compared to CFS-treated cells (~ 47%). These results were more confirmed with qPCR and exhibited the upregulation of Caspase 9–3 and BAX genes, and downregulation of the BCL-2 gene in cur-CFS- and CFS-treated cells. In conclusion, turmeric spice and curcumin may affect the metabolomics of probiotics in intestinal flora which could subsequently influence their anticancer properties.

Comparative Pharmacokinetic of Curcuminoids Formulations with an Omega-3 Fatty Acids Monoglyceride Carrier: A Randomized Cross-Over Triple-Blind Study.

There is a growing interest for curcuminoids in the general population and the scientific research community. Curcuminoids, derived from turmeric spice, are lipophiles and therefore have a low solubility in water which hence have a low bioavailability in the human plasma. To circumvent this issue, a natural product developed by Biodroga Nutraceuticals combined curcuminoids with omega-3 fatty acids (OM3) esterified in monoglycerides (MAG). The objective was to perform a 24 h pharmacokinetics in humans receiving a single dose of curcuminoid formulated by three different means, and to compare their plasma curcuminoids concentration. Sixteen males and fifteen females tested three formulations: 400 mg of curcuminoids powder extract, 400 mg of curcuminoids in rice oil and 400 mg of curcuminoids with 1 g MAG-OM3. Blood samples were collected at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10 and 24 h post dose intake. Plasma samples were analyzed by ultra high-performance liquid chromatography with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (UPLC-MS/MS). Twenty-four hours after a single dose intake, the total plasma curcuminoids area under the curve (AUC) reached 166.8 ± 17.8 ng/mL*h, 134.0 ± 12.7 ng/mL*h and 163.1 ± 15.3 ng/mL*h when curcuminoids were provided with MAG-OM3, with rice oil or in powder, respectively. The Cmax of total curcuminoids reached between 11.9-17.7 ng/mL at around 4 h (Tmax). One-hour post-dose, the curcuminoids plasma concentration was 40% higher in participants consuming the MAG-OM3 compared to the other formulations. Thus, in a young population, plasma curcuminoids 24 h pharmacokinetics and its increase shortly after the single dose intake were higher when provided with MAG-OM3 than rice oil.

Curcumin and Its Derivatives Induce Apoptosis in Human Cancer Cells by Mobilizing and Redox Cycling Genomic Copper Ions.

Turmeric spice contains curcuminoids, which are polyphenolic compounds found in the Curcuma longa plant's rhizome. This class of molecules includes curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin. Using prostate cancer cell lines PC3, LNCaP, DU145, and C42B, we show that curcuminoids inhibit cell proliferation (measured by MTT assay) and induce apoptosis-like cell death (measured by DNA/histone ELISA). A copper chelator (neocuproine) and reactive oxygen species scavengers (thiourea for hydroxyl radical, superoxide dismutase for superoxide anion, and catalase for hydrogen peroxide) significantly inhibit this reaction, thus demonstrating that intracellular copper reacts with curcuminoids in cancer cells to cause DNA damage via ROS generation. We further show that copper-supplemented media sensitize normal breast epithelial cells (MCF-10A) to curcumin-mediated growth inhibition, as determined by decreased cell proliferation. Copper supplementation results in increased expression of copper transporters CTR1 and ATP7A in MCF-10A cells, which is attenuated by the addition of curcumin in the medium. We propose that the copper-mediated, ROS-induced mechanism of selective cell death of cancer cells may in part explain the anticancer effects of curcuminoids.

Antioxidant Activity and Inhibitory Effect of Curcumin on Some Enzymes Involved in Several Diseases: Acetylcholinesterase, Butyrylcholinesterase, α-glucosidase and Tyrosinase

Aim: This study investigates the potential effect of pure curcumin on the inhibition of different enzymes involved in several diseases. Background: Several chronic diseases such as Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and Parkinson’s are related to oxidative stress and enzyme activity. Today, various plant origin products are beneficial against several chronic diseases with secondary metabolites such as phenolic compounds. Curcumin, a polyphenol yellow- orange pigment in turmeric spices, has a wide range of biological activities with quite a safety. Objective: This study was aimed to investigate the antioxidant and inhibitory potential against key enzymes involved in human pathology, namely Alzheimer's disease (Acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE)), diabetes (α-glucosidase) and hyperpigmentation and Parkinson’s diseases (Tyrosinase) of curcumin. Methods: 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical (DPPH●) and hydrogen peroxide radicals (H2O2) assays were used to evaluate the antioxidant capacity of curcumin, and enzyme inhibitory activity was evaluated using in vitro standard procedures. Results: Curcumin exhibited an excellent antioxidant effect with an IC50 value significantly less than Vit C reference. In enzyme inhibitory activity, curcumin demonstrated excellent inhibitory activity against AChE, BChE and α-glucosidase. The finding showed that curcumin was significantly less than the reference galantamine against AChE but more than the references galantamine and acarbose against BChE and α-glucosidase, respectively. Whereas for anti-tyrosinase activity, curcumin displayed weak inhibitory activity compared with the standard inhibitor, Kojic acid. Conclusion: These results indicated that curcumin showed promising antioxidant, anti-Alzheimer, and anti-diabetic properties and might be used as potential natural drugs against these diseases.

Association of food habit with the COVID-19 severity and hospitalization: A cross-sectional study among the recovered individuals in Bangladesh.

Background: It was assumed that dietary habits might influence the status of COVID-19 patients. Aim: We aimed at the identification of association of dietary habits with the COVID-19 severity and hospitalization. Methods: It was a retrospective cross-sectional study (n = 1025). We used bivariate and multivariate analyses to correlate the association between self-reported dietary patterns and COVID-19 severity and hospitalization. Results: Dietary habits (black tea, milked tea, pickles, black caraway seeds, honey, fish, fruits, vegetables, garlic, onion and turmeric) were identified with lower risk of COVID-19 severity and hospitalization. Interestingly, the consumption frequency (one-, two- or three-times/day) of rice - the staple food in Bangladesh - was not associated with COVID-19 severity and hospitalization for comorbid patients. In contrast, a moderate rice-eating habit (two times/day) was strongly associated with the lower risk of severity and hospitalization for non-comorbid patients. However, for both comorbid and non-comorbid patients, consumption of black tea, milked tea, pickles and honey were associated with a lower likelihood of severity and hospitalization. Overall, a high consumption (three-times/day) of fish, fruits and vegetables, a moderate consumption of garlic, onion and turmeric spices and a daily intake of black/milked tea, and honey were associated with reduced risk of COVID-19 severity and hospitalization. Conclusions: To reduce the severity of COVID-19, a habitual practice of intaking black tea, milked tea, black caraway seeds and honey along with dietary habit (rice, fish and vegetables) and with a moderate consumption of ginger, garlic, onion, mixed aromatic spices (cinnamon + cardamom + cloves) and turmeric might be suggested.

Tracking the source of contaminant lead in children's blood

Pb isotope ratios are used for apportioning the sources of Pb in the blood of children (ages 1–6) screened for high blood Pb levels (>5 μg/dL) surrounding urban areas of Kansas City, MO. We compared Pb isotope ratios measured in the child's blood with those of the most likely sources of Pb in that child's home environment. The environmental sources sampled consisted of topsoils, paints, occupational sources (e.g., oil rig workers' uniforms, mechanics' clothes), indoor air filters, dusts, and dietary sources (e.g., spices). Blood lead levels (BLL) ranged from 2.9 to 12.7 μg/dL in children from the five homes participating in this study. Measurements of 206Pb/204Pb, 207Pb/204Pb and 208Pb/204Pb isotope ratios were made by multi-collector ICP-MS. Comparison of the Pb isotope ratios in home environment samples versus those in the child's blood in each home allowed the identification of possible sources of a child's Pb exposure in three homes. In five homes investigated, children's blood Pb levels were most likely to be derived from dusts inside, and topsoil outside, the homes, or a mixture thereof. In one case, blood Pb was derived from turmeric spice and, in another, the Pb was derived from paint. It is not always possible to directly link high BLLs to the environmental sources collected when Pb isotope ratios of the environmental samples did not overlap with those of the blood.

Effect of Turmeric (Curcuma longa) Spice on Nutrititional, Microbial Content of Moin-Moin and Efficacy of Spice Against Selected Foodborne Pathogens

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) impacts flavor, organoleptic quality of foods and contributes to the preservation of foods. Moin-moin is an indigenous food made from beans (Vigna unguiculata) and highly perishable. This study investigated the effect of turmeric spice on quality of moin-moin, and the efficacy of turmeric on selected foodborne pathogens. Three samples were prepared with (0; 2.5 and 5g) of turmeric. Nutritional, microbial, sensory and efficacy of spice against microorganisms were performed. Moisture content ranged from (1.35 to 1.48%), protein (38.9 to 44.9%), ash (6.2 to 7.4%), fat (11 to 11.8%) and fibre (6.9 to 7.7%). TVC of samples for day zero was (3.1 to 6.8 x 105CFU/g); Enterobacteriaceae (1.1 to 2.1x105CFU/g); Staphylococcal (2.7 to 4.6 x105CFU/g); and Coliform (6.4 to 8.3x105CFU/g). After 48 h, sample with 5g of spice and refrigeration had reduced microbial load. Moin-moin with 2.5g of turmeric was generally accepted and considered the best sample. Turmeric spice was observed to be more effective against Salmonella spp. Conclusively, addition of turmeric to moin-moin was able to reduce the microbial load and improve the shelf-life of the product.

In vitro anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity enhancement of curcumin by its monoketone tetramethoxy analog diveratralacetone

Chagas disease is a tropical disease caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and currently affects millions of people worldwide. Curcumin (CUR), the major constituent of turmeric spice (dry powder of Curcuma longa L. plant rhizomes and roots), exhibits antiparasitic activity against protozoan parasites in vitro. However, because of its chemical instability, poor cellular uptake and limited bioavailability it is not suitable for clinical use. The objective of this study was to synthesize and evaluate in vitro CUR monoketone analog dibenzalacetone (DBA 1) and its non-phenolic, methoxy (2–4) and chloro (5) derivatives for better stability and bioavailability against T. cruzi. Diveratralacetone, the tetramethoxy DBA (DBA 3), was found to be the CUR analog with most enhanced activity against the amastigote forms of four strains of T. cruzi tested (Brazil, CA-I/72, Sylvio X10/4 and Sylvio X10/7) with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) < 10 μM (1.51–9.63 μM) and selectivity index (SI) > 10 (C2C12 non-infected mammalian cells). This was supplemented by time-course assessment of its anti-T. cruzi activity. DBA 1 and its dimethoxy (DBA 2) and hexamethoxy (DBA 4) derivatives were substantially less active. The inactivity of dichloro-DBA (DBA 5) was indicative of the important role played by oxygenated groups such as methoxy in the terminal aromatic rings in the DBA molecule, particularly at para position to form reactive oxygen species essential for anti-T. cruzi activity. Although the DBAs and CUR were toxic to infected mammalian cells in vitro, in a mouse model, both DBA 3 and CUR did not exhibit acute toxicity or mortality. These results justify further optimization and in vivo anti-T. cruzi activity evaluation of the inexpensive diveratralacetone for its potential use in treating Chagas disease, a neglected parasitic disease in economically challenged tropical countries.

Chain-breaking/Preventive Antioxidant, Urate-lowering, and Anti-inflammatory Effects of Pure Curcumin

Background: Several researches have shown that therapeutic compounds or phytochemicals from natural sources are important in the food as it is valuable in pharmaceutical industries due to their fewer side effects and potent against various diseases. Curcumin, a major polyphenol derived from turmeric spice, which used in many foods, has a wide range of biological activities, with quite a safety. Objective: The goal of this study was to investigate the antioxidant, urate-lowering, and antiinflammatory effects of pure curcumin. Methods: The antioxidant activity was evaluated for chain-breaking antioxidant effect (radicalscavenging and reducing abilities assays) and for preventive antioxidant effect with metal chelating assay, the urate-lowering was assayed on aspectrophotometer by measuring the inhibition of uric acid production by xanthine oxidase (XO) enzyme, and the anti-inflammatory effect was estimated using in vitro albumin denaturation inhibition. Results: Curcumin showed a significant and good chain-breaking antioxidant effect, both in free radical- scavenging assays (Galvinoxyl radical, ABTS, and hydroxyl radical), and in reducing abilities methods (reducing power, Cupric ion reducing antioxidant capacity and O-phenanthroline assays). In preventive antioxidant effect, assessed with the metal chelating assay, curcumin showed significant effect but with high concentration compared with standard. In the xanthine/xanthine oxidase system, curcumin significantly inhibited uric acid production (IC50=0.71 ± 0.06 mg/mL). Regarding antiinflammatory activity, curcumin showed significant inhibition of albumin denaturation with an IC50 value of 1181.69 ± 1.11μg/mL. Conclusion: These results indicated that curcumin showed promising antioxidant, anti-gout and antiinflammatory properties and might be used as potential, natural drugs against oxidative and inflammation- related diseases.

Potential Therapeutic Targets of Curcumin, Most Abundant Active Compound of Turmeric Spice: Role in the Management of Various Types of Cancer.

Curcumin, an active compound of turmeric spice, is one of the most-studied natural compounds and has been widely recognized as a chemopreventive agent. Several molecular mechanisms have proven that curcumin and its analogs play a role in cancer prevention through modulating various cell signaling pathways as well as in the inhibition of the carcinogenesis process. To study the potential role of curcumin in the management of various types of cancer through modulating cell signalling molecules based on available literature and recent patents. A wide-ranging literature survey was performed based on Scopus, PubMed, PubMed Central, and Google scholar for the implication of curcumin in cancer management, along with a special emphasis on human clinical trials. Moreover, patents were searched through www.google.com/patents, www.freepatentsonline.com, and www.freshpatents.com. Recent studies based on cancer cells have proven that curcumin has potential effects against cancer cells as it prevents the growth of cancer and acts as a cancer therapeutic agent. Besides, curcumin exerted anti-cancer effects by inducing apoptosis, activating tumor suppressor genes, cell cycle arrest, inhibiting tumor angiogenesis, initiation, promotion, and progression stages of tumor. It was established that co-treatment of curcumin and anti-cancer drugs could induce apoptosis and also play a significant role in the suppression of the invasion and metastasis of cancer cells. Accumulating evidences suggest that curcumin has the potential to inhibit cancer growth, induce apoptosis, and modulate various cell signaling pathway molecules. Well-designed clinical trials of curcumin based on human subjects are still needed to establish the bioavailability, mechanism of action, efficacy, and safe dose in the management of various cancers.

Curcumin as an Antiviral Agent.

Curcumin, the primary curcuminoid compound found in turmeric spice, has shown broad activity as an antimicrobial agent, limiting the replication of many different fungi, bacteria and viruses. In this review, we summarize recent studies supporting the development of curcumin and its derivatives as broad-spectrum antiviral agents.

Potential therapeutic effect of turmeric contents against SARS-CoV-2 compared with experimental COVID-19 therapies: in silico study

Inspired by the ‘There is no scientific evidence that turmeric prevents COVID-19’ statement made by WHO, the protective or therapeutic potential of the compounds in turmeric contents was investigated against COVID-19 with in silico methodology. The drugs used for experimental COVID-19 therapies were included in this study using the same method for comparison with turmeric components. The 30 turmeric compounds and nine drugs were performed in the docking procedure for vital proteins of COVID-19. With evaluations based on docking scores, the Prime MMGBSA binding free energy and protein-ligand interactions were identified in detail. The 100 ns MD simulations were also performed to assess the stability of the ligands at the binding site of the target proteins. The Root Mean Square Deviation (RMSD) is used to obtain the average displacement for a particular frame concerning a reference frame. The results of this study are suggesting that turmeric spice have a potential to inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 vital proteins and can be use a therapeutic or protective agent against SARS-CoV-2 via inhibiting key protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The compound 4, 23 and 6 are the most prominent inhibitor for the main protease, the spike glycoprotein and RNA polymerase of virus, respectively. The MD simulation validated the stability of ligand-protein interactions. The compactness of the complexes was shown using a radius of gyration. ADME properties of featured compounds are in range of 95% drug molecules. It is hoped that the outputs of this study will contribute to the struggle of humanity with COVID-19. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

Antiviral Effects of Curcumin on Adenovirus Replication.

Human adenovirus (HAdV) is a common pathogen that can cause severe morbidity and mortality in certain populations, including pediatric, geriatric, and immunocompromised patients. Unfortunately, there are no approved therapeutics to combat HAdV infections. Curcumin, the primary curcuminoid compound found in turmeric spice, has shown broad activity as an antimicrobial agent, limiting the replication of many different bacteria and viruses. In this study, we evaluated curcumin as an anti-HAdV agent. Treatment of cells in culture with curcumin reduced HAdV replication, gene expression, and virus yield, at concentrations of curcumin that had little effect on cell viability. Thus, curcumin represents a promising class of compounds for further study as potential therapeutics to combat HAdV infection.

Curcumin and Photobiomodulation in Chronic Viral Hepatitis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Immune modulation is a very modern medical field for targeting viral infections. In the race to develop the best immune modulator against viruses, curcumin, as a natural product, is inexpensive, without side effects, and can stimulate very well certain areas of the human immune system. As a bright yellow component of turmeric spice, curcumin has been the subject of thousands of scientific and clinical studies in recent decades to prove its powerful antioxidant properties and anticancer effects. Curcumin has been shown to influence inter- and intracellular signaling pathways, with direct effects on gene expression of the antioxidant proteins and those that regulate the immunity. Experimental studies have shown that curcumin modulates several enzyme systems, reduces nitrosative stress, increases the antioxidant capacity, and decreases the lipid peroxidation, protecting against fatty liver pathogenesis and fibrotic changes. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) affects millions of people worldwide, having sometimes a dramatic evolution to chronic aggressive infection, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. All up-to-date treatments are limited, there is still a gap in the scientific knowledge, and a sterilization cure may not yet be possible with the removal of both covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) and the embedded HBV DNA. With a maximum light absorption at 420 nm, the cytotoxicity of curcumin as photosensitizer could be expanded by the intravenous blue laser blood irradiation (IVBLBI) or photobiomodulation in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection, Hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg)-positive, noncirrhotic, but nonresponsive to classical therapy. Photobiomodulation increases DNA repair by the biosynthesis of complex molecules with antioxidant properties, the outset of repairing enzyme systems and new phospholipids for regenerating the cell membranes. UltraBioavailable Curcumin and blue laser photobiomodulation could suppress the virus and control better the disease by reducing inflammation/fibrosis and stopping the progression of chronic hepatitis, reversing fibrosis, and diminishing the progression of cirrhosis, and decreasing the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma. Photodynamic therapy with blue light and curcumin opens new avenues for the effective prevention and cure of chronic liver infections and hepatocellular carcinoma. Blue laser light and UltraBioavailable Curcumin could be a new valuable alternative for medical applications in chronic B viral hepatitis and hepatocarcinoma, saving millions of lives.

Evaluation of Associated Changes on Haematological Profile of Wistar Rats Fed Curcuma longa (Turmeric) Rhizome Powder

Turmeric spice has a diverse array of biological activities. The present study evaluated body weight and haematological impact of Curcuma longa (Turmeric) in male albino rats using standard analytical methods. Twenty four healthy male albino rats were used for the study. Results shows no significant increase in body weight in the first week of dieting while a gradual increase was observed with increasing weeks of dieting. Treatment with the powder did not significantly (P ≥ 0.05) alter the levels of hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cells (RBC) and means corpuscular volume (MCV) of the rats. The result also showed a significant (p ≤ 0.05) increase in the platelets and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentrations (MCHC). However, the white blood cells (WBC) and the packed cell volume (PCV) concentrations were slightly reduced. This study suggests that adding Curcuma longa (Turmeric) at 50, 100, 200 mg/kg body weight within the duration of study could positively affect the hematological parameters and general well being of the body.

Traditional Uses, Therapeutic Effects and Recent Advances of Curcumin: A Mini-Review.

Studies regarding the uses and biological benefits curcumin have long been paid worldwide attention. Curcumin is a polyphenol found in the turmeric spice, which is derived from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa. Curcumin is a major constituent of the traditional Indian holistic system, Ayurveda, and it is well-known in treating diverse ailments. The aim of this study is to conduct an overview that introduces the traditional uses and therapeutic effects of this valuable phytochemical with more focus on the antitumor results. This review was conducted based on published articles on PubMed, Medline, and Web of Science databases. In this study, the search strategy identified 103 references. Curcumin is found to possess many functions in recent years. It is commonly used for its antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, anti-diabetic, hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective, and neuroprotective effects. Curcumin has been greatly reported to prevent many diseases through modulating several signaling pathways, and the molecular bases of its anti-tumor bioactivities are imputed to the antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, pro-apoptotic, anti-angiogenesis and anti-metastasis effects. The antitoxic potential of curcumin against various toxin like Aflatoxin B1 is reported. Although curcumin is a safe and promising phytochemical, it suffers from bioavailability problems that limit its therapeutic efficacy. Thus, various promising strategies allowed for the achievement of multiple and effective varieties of curcumin formulations, such as adjuvants, nanoparticles, liposome, micelle and phospholipid complexes, metal complexes, derivatives, and analogues. In conclusion, curcumin is widely used for myriad therapeutic purposes that trigger its significant value. This short review aims to highlight the known biological activities of curcumin and provide evidence for its antitumor effects.

KURKUMİN UYGULAMASININ YÜKSEK YAĞLI DİYETLE BESLENEN SIÇANLARIN TESTİS DOKUSUNDA OKSİDANANTİOKSİDAN SİSTEM ÜZERİNE ETKİSİ

Objective: High fat diet (HFD) induced oxidative stress is known to adversely affect testicular functions. Curcumin, which is an active ingredient of turmeric spice, has been shown to reduce lipid peroxidation and stimulate cellular antioxidant enzymes. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of dietary curcumin on the testicular oxidant-antioxidant status in rats fed on a HFD. Material and Method: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups. Group 1 was fed with a control diet (10% of total calories from fat). Group 2 was fed with a HFD (60% of total calories from fat). Groups 3 and 4 received a HFD and a control diet with curcumin (1g/kg diet; w/w) respectively for 16 weeks. The testis tissue was homogenized and divided into postmitochondrial and mitochondrial fractions and the reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured with the fluorometric method. The malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione transferase (GST) activities were measured with spectrophotometric methods. Results: HFD supplementation increased postmitochondrial and mitochondrial MDA levels and decreased cytosolic GSH levels in testis. MDA levels decreased with curcumin supplementation. Moreover, GSH levels and GST activity increased.&nbsp;However, curcumin supplementation alone did not affect oxidant-antioxidant status. ROS levels, SOD and GPx activities did not change significantly between the groups. Conclusion: Our data has shown that curcumin supplementation with HFD may prevent testicular oxidant damage. However, further studies are needed to investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms.&nbsp;