- Santel, Thore; Pflug, Gabi; Hemdan, Nasr Y. A.; Schaefer, Angelika; Hollenbach, Marcus; Buchold, Martin; Hintersdorf, Anja; Lindner, Inge; Otto, Andreas; Bigl, Marina; Oerlecke, Ilka; Hutschenreuter, Antje; Sack, Ulrich; Huse, Klaus; Groth, Marco; Birkemeyer, Claudia; Schellenberger, Wolfgang; Gebhardt, Rolf; Platzer, Mathias; Weiss, Thomas; Vijayalakshmi, Mookambeswaran A.; Krueger, Monika; Birkenmeier, Gerd. PLoS One (2008), 3(10), e3508.Epub 2008 Oct 23
Scientific Essence:: In this study, the scientists studied the anti-inflammatory effect of various polyphenolic compounds such as curcumin, quercetin, myricetin and three others. This was done by testing the effect of the compounds on glycolase 1 (Glo1); inhibitors to Glo1 are considered anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic (cancer preventing). Curcumin was the strongest inhibitor of Glo1, showing that it had very strong anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effect. In addition, curcumin was found to hamper the growth of breast cancer, prostate cancer and brain astrocytoma cells (JIMT-1, MDA-MB-231, PC-3 and 1321N1). The authors conclude that their findings support the use of curcumin as a potential therapeutic agent.
- Kanitkar, M.; Gokhale, K.; Galande, S.; Bhonde, R. R. British Journal of Pharmacology (2008), 155(5), 702-713
Scientific Essence:: One of the major triggers of diabetes is pancreatic islet cell death produced by pro-inflammatory cytokines. The cytokines cause oxidative stress which destroys the pancreatic islet cells. The scientists studied the effect of curcumin, an anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory compound in preventing the progression of diabetes. They also studied the biological pathways involved in the protective action of curcumin. The authors concluded that curcumin protects pancreatic islet cells from cytokine-induced cell death and helps in preventing diabetes.
- Hatcher, H.; Planalp, R.; Cho, J.; Torti, F. M.; Torti, S. V. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences (2008), 65(11), 1631-1652
Scientific Essence:: This is a review involving the various beneficial properties of curcumin, the active ingredient in the dietary spice turmeric (curcuma longa). Curcumin has extraordinarily large number of beneficial properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anticancer properties. The large number of activities of curcumin stem from its complex chemistry and its ability to affect various biochemical pathways leading to diseases. Curcumin is an extremely promising therapeutic agent and is currently involved in human clinical trials for a range of conditions such as multiple myelochma, pancreatic and colon cancers, psoriasis and Alzheimer's disease.
- Jacob, Asha; Wu, Rongqian; Zhou, Mian; Wang, Ping. PPAR Research 2007:89369
Scientific Essence:: This review describes the various therapeutic benefits of curcumin, especially as an anti-inflammatory agent and the mechanism of its action. The review also covers research involving the use of curcumin for treating colorectal cancer.
- Lin, Li; Lee, Kuo-Hsiung. Studies in Natural Products Chemistry (2006), 33 Bioactive Natural Products (Part M)), 785-812
Scientific Essence:: This is a review on the various beneficial properties of curcumin, the yellow pigment from turmeric (Curcuma longa). Curcumin has several bioactivities like anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, antiviral, antifungal, cancer chemo-preventive and cancer therapeutic properties. The article also discusses the synthetic routes to making curcumin and related molecules. The authors also review the advantages of curcumin in cancer treatment.
- Epstein, Jonathan A Journal of Clinical Investigation (2008), 118(3), 850-852
Scientific Essence:: Curcumin has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities and might also inhibit histone acetyl transferases. Recent reports suggest that curcumin may inhibit cardiac hypertrophy and provide beneficial effects after heart attack or in the onset of high blood pressure.
- Strimpakos, Alexios S.; Sharma, Ricky A. Antioxidants & Redox (2008), 10(3), 511-546
Scientific Essence:: This comprehensive review covers the extensive literature on the use of curcumin as a therapy for cancer and its potential use in the treatment of other diseases such as degenerative neurologic disorders, cystic fibrosis, and cardiovascular diseases. The mechanism of prevention of cancer stems from a variety of effects such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties. The authors emphasize articles on the prevention and treatment of human cancers.
- Gradisar, Helena; Keber, Mateja Mancek; Pristovsek, Primoz; Jerala, Roman. Journal of Leukocyte Biology (2007), 82(4), 968-974
Scientific Essence:: Curcumin, the major component of the spice turmeric and is a widely used component of the diet in the Indian subcontinent. Curcumin has anti-inflammatory properties and suppresses inflammatory response to bacterial infection. Hence curcumin may have use in treating chronic inflammatory diseases initiated by bacterial infection. This conclusion along with the fact that there is a low incidence of gastric cancer in India where turmeric is regularly consumed suggests that curcumin could be used to prevent /treat chronic inflammatory diseases caused by bacterial infection.
- Jin, Cheng-yun; Lee, Jae-dong; Park, Cheol; Choi, Yung hyun; Kim, Gi-young Acta Pharmacologica Sinica (2007), 28(10), 1645-1651
Scientific Essence:: Mediators of inflammation such as cytokines and nitric oxide play key roles in brain injuries. Curcumin has anti-inflammatory properties and reduces the production of these pro-inflammatory mediators. The mechanism of the anti-inflammatory effect of curcumin was investigated. The research revealed that curcumin inhibited the release of pro-inflammatory mediator's through the NF-KB signaling pathway.
- Shakibaei, Mehdi; John, Thilo; Schulze-Tanzil, Gundula; Lehmann, Ingo; Mobasheri, Ali. Biochemical Pharmacology (2007), 73(9), 1434-1445
Scientific Essence:: Conditions such as osteoarthritis and a range of other osteoarticular disorders are initiated by pro-inflammatory cytokines. Some anti-inflammatory agents can suppress the production of these cytokines. These anti-inflammatory agents may be useful in the treatment of osteoarthritis and related disorders. Curcumin is a safe plant based compound and was used in this study. The effect of curcumin on cells treated with cytokines were observed .In the absence of curcumin, the cytokines triggered a range of inflammatory reactions in the cells. Curcumin inhibited several of these pathways and reversed some inflammatory responses. The authors conclude that curcumin has nutritional potential as a natural anti-inflammatory agent for treating osteoarthritis and related diseases.
- Jagetia, Ganesh Chandra; Aggarwal, Bharat B. Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Cytokine Research Laboratory, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA. Journal of Clinical Immunology (2007), 27(1), 19-35
Scientific Essence:: This article covers the potent and broad anti-inflammatory property and mechanisms of action of curcumin. They observed that curcumin (the primary ingredient in the curry spice turmeric) suppresses the production of proinflammatory cytokines. The scientists state that the beneficial effects of curcumin in treating diseases such as arthritis, allergy, asthma, atherosclerosis, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, and cancer can be correlated to its ability to influence the immune system.
- Kohli, K.; Ali, J.; Ansari, M. J.; Raheman, Z Indian Journal of Pharmacology (2005), 37(3), 141-147
Scientific Essence:: The authors study the biochemical mechanism of the antiinflamatory action of curcumin.
