Curcumin is a chemical compound found commonly in turmeric, a popular Asian spice. Asian cultures have used the entire spice as a remedy for multiple ailments for thousands of years. More recently, curcumin extracts obtained from turmeric have been sold as alternative medical supplements. The popularity of curcumin is due to research studies that suggest it has many healing properties.
Anti-Arthritic Properties
A 2006 study by Dr. Janet L. Funk of the University of Arizona College of Medicine revealed evidence of anti-inflammatory properties in curcumin that help reduce symptoms associated with rheumatoid arthritis. She and her colleagues tested three variations of the turmeric spice, including one that contained isolated curcumin extract similar to the commercially available curcumin supplements. The extracted curcumin specimen was the most effective of the three compounds at preventing symptoms of arthritis. The study analyzed the anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin in direct interaction with live skeletal joints. The chemical process caused by curcumin behaves similarly to synthetic drugs that also reduce arthritic inflammation.
Anti-Carcinogenic Properties
Curcumin is known to contain properties that may help prevent cancer when included regularly in a diet. A 2007 article in the International Journal of Epidemiology studied the disparate rates of cancer in four different societies. Cancer rates in India are notably lower than those in the United States. The study postulated that the common inclusion of turmeric in the daily diet of Indians may contribute to cancer prevention in that country, due to the anti-carcinogenic properties of curcumin. These effects were also discussed in an April 2010 article in the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology which concluded that curcumin has effective chemopreventive behavior for colon cancer treatment due to its anti-carcinogenic properties.
Antioxidant Properties
Antioxidants are widely known to promote healthy living. The health benefits observed with curcumin may be due to antioxidant properties that influence many processes in the body. A 2005 research study at the University of New Mexico found evidence supporting the anti-oxidant theories of curcumin interaction in the body. Their tests exposed synthetic curcumin compounds to substances affected by antioxidant behavior. Results showed promising evidence of antioxidant properties but also noted that some synthesized curcumin compounds were ineffective depending on their exact composition.
Anti-Angiogenesis Properties
Anti-angiogenesis treatment is an anti-cancer technique designed to limit the growth of tumors. Curcumin contains anti-angiogenesis properties that may contribute to decreased cancer rates. A 2002 molecular research project conducted in India subjected tumors in mice to curcumin compounds. The results noted that curcumin was "potent" in its angioinhibitory processes, with one study showing a 66 percent decrease in tumor fluid production. The researches concluded that curcumin may lead to better treatments for severe conditions affected by anti-angiogenesis properties.
References
- Science Daily: Turmeric Prevents Experimental Rheumatoid Arthritis, Bone Loss
- International Journal of Epidemiology: Cancer Incidence Rates Among South Asians in Four Geographic Regions: India, Singapore, UK and US
- ScienceDirect: Anti-oxidant activities of curcumin and related enones
- National Institute of Health: Molecular mechanisms of anti-angiogenic effect of curcumin.
- American Cancer Society: Anti-angiogenesis Treatment
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