The spice tumeric is a member of the Zingiberaceae (ginger) family. Most usage of turmeric is in the form of powder from the roots, for color, as well as for medicinal value. Curcumin is the orange-yellow component of turmeric and it is used to make curry, used in Indian cuisine. In Ayurvedic practices, turmeric is used as an antiseptic for cuts, burns and bruises and as an antibacterial agent. Tumeric is being investigated for possible benefits in inflammatory conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and colitis. In addition, it may protect against the development of colon cancer.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Curcumin is the active phytochemical in tumeric and helps alleviate the signs and symptoms of colon ailments, such as inflammatory bowel disease. The benefits are due to a combination of cucumin's antioxidant activity as well as its ability to inhibit a majory cellular inflammatory agent known as NF kappa-B. The exact mechanism by which curcumin works to mediate this inflammatory agent is not fully understood; however, in a research study published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology in February 2007, male rats given an inflammatory agent that induces IBD were protected from intestinal damage when curcumin (100mg/kg body weight) was added to their diet five days in advance. They showed significantly fewer signs of colitis (such as a thickening of the intestinal wall) than control rats. In addition, curcumin is safe at large doses. You can benefit from cucumin's healing benefits by enjoying turmeric-rich curries regularly.
Ulcerative Colitis
In addition to alleviating the signs and symptoms of IBD, curcumin shows benefits in reducing ulcerative colitis (UC) relapses in humans. The objective of a research study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology in November 2006 was to test the effectiveness of curcumin as a part of maintenance therapy for patients with UC. Forty-five patients in this radomized, double-blind trial were given 1g of curcumin after breakfast and 1g after dinner plus sulfasalazine (SZ), a drug used to treat UC, while 44 other patients received a placebo plus SZ for 6 months. Seven patients were unable to complete the study. Of the 43 patients on the curcumin treatment only 2, or less than 5 percent, had a relapse of their condition within the 6-month period. In the placebo group, eight out of 39 patients, or nearly 21 percent, relapsed in the 6-month period, a significantly higher percentage. The conclusion of this research study was that curcumin is promising and safe as a part of a treatment protocol for maintaining remission in patients with UC.
Colon Cancer
Curcumin, the primary pharmacological agent in turmeric, is responsible for tumeric's anti-inflammatory benefits. Curcumin's anti-inflammatory effects are comparable to drugs such as hydrocortisone and ibuprofen but, unlike these drugs, it has no toxic side effects. According to research published in 2007 in Subcell Biochemistry, curcumin has been shown to inhibit enzymes involved in the inflammatory process, such as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), lipoxygenase (LOX) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). The process of inflammation plays a major role in many chronic illnesses, including the development of large bowel cancer. The conclusion of this and related studies suggests that there is a potential role of curcumin in the prevention of large bowel cancer and other pro-inflammatory diseases.
References
- World Journal of Gastroenterology: NCB-02 (standardized Curcumin preparation) protects dinitrochlorobenzene- induced colitis through down-regulation of NFkappa-B and iNOS
- Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology: Curcumin maintenance therapy for ulcerative colitis: randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
- Subcell Biochemistry: Strategies for colon cancer prevention: combination of chemopreventive agents
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