The therapeutic effects of Turmeric and Curcumin

An article that proposed to review the biological effects of Curcumin and, in particular, its role in cancer prevention and therapy was published in the Peer Review Medical Journal in India, in 2006. Curcumin is an active compound found in Turmeric which is an Indian curry. It is known to have antioxidant, anti-cancerous and anti-inflammatory properties. Through the complex of biochemical mechanisms, Curcumin was found to induce apoptosis and suppress the multiplication of cancer cells. It was also found to be able to suppress angiogenesis, an important anti-cancer mechanism. Angiogenesis is the mechanism whereby new blood vessels are developed to supply blood into the tumor tissue. If the process generating new vessels is blocked, the development of cancer tissue must cease. Specifically, Curcumin was found to suppress new DNA formation in the skin, colon and stomach cancer cells. In addition, Curcumin is believed to play a role in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, several neurological conditions and melanoma. Also, Curcumin has been shown to suppress the activity of MAST cells which are a known part of the inflammatory cascade. By this mechanism, Curcumin may play an anti-inflammatory role as mentioned above. Finally, Curcumin has also expressed an anti-allergic effect.

An animal-based experiment studied the potential role of Curcumin in the prevention and treatment of the renal complication of diabetes. Chronic renal insufficiency (as a result of so called diabetic nephropathy) is a frequent, and one of the most severe, complications of Type 2 diabetes. A large number of patients with chronic renal insufficiency become dialysis dependent. In this study, treatment with Curcumin , 15 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg, was found to reduce kidney dysfunction. This result has suggested that Turmeric and its active component Curcumin being a very potent anti-oxidant, may play a significant role in prevention and treatment of life-threatening complications of Type II diabetes mellitus. Further research in this matter is warranted.

The Hamamatsu University School of Medicine in Japan has conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind study involving patients suffering from ulcerative colitis. Participants were divided into two groups. One was a placebo group and one was a group receiving 2 grams a day of Curcumin. During the treatment period, only two patients treated with Curcumin had a flare-up of colitis. In the placebo group, eight patients have relapsed. After Curcumin treatment was discontinued, the number of relapses was approximately equivalent in both groups. The conclusion drawn from this study was that Curcumin seemed to be a safe and promising agent useful for extending the remission and preventing a relapse of ulcerative colitis. Further studies in this matter should be conducted.

The Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology Journal published a study where the effect of Turmeric on the growth of colon polyps was observed. It is a well known fact that colon polyps are a pre-cancerous condition. The study was conducted by treating the participants with 480 mg of Curcumin and 20 mg of Quercetin three times a day. In this six month experiment, the participants of the study showed a marked decrease in the number and size of the colon polyps. An astounding 60% reduction in size was reported. No side effects were documented from the administration of these two nutrients.