Turmeric, Curcumin, is known since 1900s as a component of Indian Ayurvedic medicine. Curcumin treats a wide variety of ailments as both a therapeutic treatment and preventive measure. The effects of curcumin on various diseases, incl. multiple myeloma, pancreatic cancer, myelodysplastic syndromes, colon cancer, psoriasis, and Alzheimer's disease, are being studied since 2008.
In vitro and animal studies suggest curcumin may have antitumor, antioxidant, antiarthritic, antiamyloid, anti-ischemic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Curcumin may also be effective treating malaria, preventing cervical cancer, and may treat HIV.
Curcumin acts as a free radical scavenger and antioxidant, inhibiting lipid peroxidation and oxidative DNA damage. Curcuminoids induce glutathione S-transferase and are potent inhibitors of cytochrome P450.
A 2004 study suggested curcumin inhibits the accumulation of destructive beta-amyloid in the brains of Alzheimer's patients and breaks existing plaques associated with the disease.
Circumstantial evidence suggests curcumin improves mental functions.
Numerous studies have demonstrated curcumin, amongst only a few other things, has a positive effect on the physical symptoms associated with stress, depression, and anxiety. Curcumin has also been demonstrated to be a selective monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) of type MAO-A.
From 2010 to 2011, scientists at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center have created a new molecule from curcumin, a chemical component turmeric, and have found, in laboratory experiments, that the molecule affects mechanisms that protect and help regenerate brain cells after a stroke.
Curcumin's potential anticancer effects stem from its ability to induce apoptosis in cancer cells without cytotoxic effects on healthy cells. Curcumin can interfere with the activity of the transcription factor NF-κB, which has been linked to a number of inflammatory diseases such as cancer.
2009 study explains curcumin effects on cancer states it "modulates growth of tumor cells through regulation of multiple cell signaling pathways including cell proliferation pathway (cyclin D1, c-myc), cell survival pathway (Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, cFLIP, XIAP, c-IAP1), caspase activation pathway (caspase-8, 3, 9), tumor suppressor pathway (p53, p21) death receptor pathway (DR4, DR5), mitochondrial pathways, and protein kinase pathway (JNK, Akt, and AMPK)".
A 2010 study in malignant brain tumors showed curcumin effectively inhibits tumor cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and effects may be mediated through interference with the STAT3 signaling pathway.
When 0.2% curcumin is added to diet given to rats or mice previously given a carcinogen, it significantly reduces colon carcinogenesis.
Curcumin has recently been shown to have phyto-estrogenic activity that contributes to activity against breast cancer. In the murine model of breast cancer metastasis, curcumin inhibits the formation of lung metastases - probably through the NF-kappa-B dependent regulation of protumorigenic inflammatory cytokines.
The benefits of curcumin with colon cancer, may not require systemic absorption. Dissolving curcumin in hot water or warm oils prior to ingestion may increase bioavailability. Cooking with curcumin and oil may also increase absorption.
In 2010, a food-grade polymer micellar encapsulation system was shown to increase curcumin's water solubility and in vitro anti-cancer activity. It was found that hydrophobically modified starch, used to encapsulate flavors, could form polymer micelles. Using a high-speed homogenization method, it loaded curcumin into hydrophobic core, and solubilize curcumin. Cell culture experiments revealed enhanced anti-cancer activity on HepG2 cell line.
