[3,4] APPLICATIONS OF CURCUMIN Therapeutic applications of turmeric The active constituent of turmeric selleckbio is known as curcumin, which has been shown to have a wide range of therapeutic effects.[5] Antioxidant Curcumin protects against free radical damage because it is a strong antioxidant.[6] Water- and fat-soluble extracts of turmeric and its curcumin component exhibit strong antioxidant activity, comparable to that of vitamins C and E.[7] An in vitro study measuring the effect of curcumin on endothelial heme oxygenase-1, an inducible stress protein, was conducted utilizing bovine aortic endothelial cells. Incubation (for 18 hours) with curcumin resulted in enhanced cellular resistance to oxidative damage.[8] Anti-inflammatory It reduces inflammation by lowering histamine levels and possibly by increasing the production of natural cortisone by the adrenal glands.

[9] Oral administration of curcumin in instances of acute inflammation was found to be as effective as cortisone or phenylbutazone, and half as effective in cases of chronic inflammation.[10] Its anti-inflammatory properties may be attributed to its ability to inhibit both biosyntheis of inflammatory prostaglandins from arachidonic acid and neutrophil function during inflammatory states.[10] Hepatoprotective It protects the liver from a number of toxic compounds such as carbon tetrachloride (CCl4),[11,12] galactosamine,[13] acetaminophen (paracetamol),[14] and Aspergillus aflatoxin.[15] Turmeric’s hepatoprotective effect is mainly a result of its antioxidant properties as well as its ability to decrease the formation of proinflammatory cytokines.

Sodium curcuminate, a salt of curcumin, also exerts choleretic effects by increasing biliary excretion of bile salts, cholesterol, and bilirubin as well as by increasing bile solubility, therefore, possibly preventing and treating cholelithiasis. Curcumin has choleretic activity that increases bile output and solubility, which may be helpful in treating gallstones.[16] Antiplatelet aggregation It has been shown to prevent platelets from clumping together, which in turn improves circulation.[17] Inhibition of platelet aggregation by curcumin constituents is thought to be via potentiation of prostacyclin synthesis and inhibition of thromboxane synthesis.[17] Antimutagenic Curcumin is antimutagenic as it potentially helps to prevent new cancers that are caused by chemotherapy or radiation therapy used to treat existing cancers.

It effectively inhibits metastasis (uncontrolled spread) of melanoma (skin cancer) cells and may be Drug_discovery especially useful in deactivating the carcinogens in cigarette smoke and chewing tobacco.[18,19] Animal studies involving rats and mice as well as in vitro studies utilizing human cell lines have demonstrated curcumin’s ability to inhibit carcinogenesis at three stages: Tumor promotion,[20] angiogenesis,[21] and tumor growth.