Turmeric Compound Boosts
Regeneration of Brain Stem Cells, and More
October 13, 2014
Story
at-a-glance
Curcumin, a bioactive ingredient in the curry spice
turmeric, exhibits over 150 potentially therapeutic
activities
Curcumin is capable of crossing the blood-brain
barrier, which is one reason why it holds promise as
a neuroprotective agent
Recent animal research suggests another bioactive
compound in turmeric called aromatic-turmerone can
increase neural stem cell growth in the brain by as
much as 80 percent at certain concentrations
The findings suggest aromatic-turmerone may help in
the recovery of brain function in neurodegenerative
diseases such as Alzheimer’s and stroke
Previous research has also shown that curcumin may
help inhibit the accumulation of destructive
beta-amyloids in the brain of Alzheimer's patients,
as well as break up existing plaques
Curcumin also has the most evidence-based literature
supporting its use against cancer of any other
nutrient studied, including vitamin D
By Dr. Mercola
Many spices have powerful medicinal properties, which is why
they've been used to promote healing for thousands of years prior to
the advent of patented synthetic drugs.
Some spices are clearly more useful than others, and one “star
player” within Nature’s pharmacy is turmeric, a yellow-pigmented
curry spice often used in Indian cuisine.
Turmeric also has a long history of medicinal use in traditional
Chinese medicine and Ayurveda.
Curcumin—one of its most well-studied bioactive
ingredients—exhibits over 150 potentially therapeutic activities,
including potent anti-cancer properties. Curcumin is also capable of
crossing the blood-brain barrier, which is one reason why it holds
promise as a neuroprotective agent in a wide range of neurological
disorders.
Researchers have previously investigated curcumin for its
potential role in improving
Parkinson's, Alzheimer’s disease, and
stroke damage. It can also promote brain health in general,
courtesy of its potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
One of the ways it works, which is similar to
vitamin D, is by
modulating large numbers of your genes. But unlike vitamin D that
influences thousands of genes, curcumin has been shown to influence
about 700 genes.
Previous research1
has also demonstrated that curcumin acts by inserting itself into
your cells' membranes where it changes the physical properties of
the membrane itself, making it more orderly.
Yet another part of the answer for turmeric’s multifaceted
benefits lies in the herb’s ability to affect signaling molecules.2
For example, curcumin has been shown to directly interact with:
Inflammatory molecules
Cell survival proteins
Histone
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV1) integrase and
protease
DNA and RNA
Various carrier proteins and metal ions
Turmeric Compound Boosts Regeneration of Brain Stem Cells
Recent animal research3,
4 suggests another bioactive compound in turmeric called
aromatic-turmerone can increase neural stem cell growth in the brain
by as much as 80 percent at certain concentrations. Neural stem
cells differentiate into neurons and play an important role in
self-repair.
The findings suggest aromatic-turmerone may help in the recovery
of brain function in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s
and stroke—provided the effect also applies to humans. As reported
by Time Magazine:5
“[T]he same research group found that rodent neural stem
cells grew when they were bathed in a solution of
aromatic-turmerone. The cells bathed in the turmeric compound
also appeared to specialize into certain types of brain cells
more rapidly.
‘It is interesting that it might be possible to boost the
effectiveness of the stem cells with aromatic-turmerone,’ Maria
Adele Rueger, a researcher on the team, told the BBC. 'And it is
possible this in turn can help boost repair in the brain.'”
Previous research has also shown that
curcumin may help inhibit the accumulation of destructive
beta-amyloids in the brain of Alzheimer's patients, as well as break
up existing plaques.
People with Alzheimer's tend to have higher levels of
inflammation in their brains, and curcumin is perhaps most known for
its potent anti-inflammatory properties.
The compound can inhibit both the activity and the inflammatory
metabolic byproducts of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) and 5-lipooxygenase
(5-LOX) enzymes, as well as other enzymes and hormones that modulate
inflammation.
Turmeric May Be One of the Most Useful Herbs on the Planet
The effects of turmeric are not limited to brain health. As noted
in a previous GreenMedInfo6
article on this subject, turmeric has been “empirically demonstrated
to positively modulate over 160 different physiological pathways.”
A study published in the Natural Product Reports7
in 2011 describes curcumin as being therapeutic for a wide range of
diseases, including:
Lung and liver diseases
Neurological diseases
Metabolic diseases
Autoimmune disorders
Cardiovascular diseases
Inflammatory diseases
For example, curcumin has been shown to benefit those with
osteoarthritis. Research8
published in 2011 found that patients who added 200 mg of curcumin a
day to their treatment plan had reduced pain and increased mobility,
whereas the control group, which received no curcumin, had no
significant improvements.
A 2006 study9
also found that a turmeric extract composed of curcuminoids
(plant-based nutrients that contain powerful antioxidant properties)
blocked inflammatory pathways, effectively preventing the launch of
a protein that triggers swelling and pain.
Studies now numbering in the hundreds have shown that curcumin
and other bioactive compounds in the spice may be helpful for a wide
array of health problems. For example, research has shown turmeric
can:
Support healthy cholesterol levels
Prevent low-density lipoprotein oxidation
Inhibit platelet aggregation
Suppress thrombosis and myocardial infarction
Suppress symptoms associated with type 2 diabetes
Suppress symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis
Suppress symptoms of multiple sclerosis
Protect against radiation-induced damage and heavy metal
toxicity
Inhibit HIV replication
Suppress tumor formation
Enhance wound healing
Protect against liver damage
Increase bile secretion
Protect against cataracts
Protect against pulmonary toxicity and fibrosis
Curcumin—A Potent Anti-Cancer Herb
Dr. William LaValley is one of the leading natural medicine
cancer physicians. He has spent a considerable amount of time
immersing himself in the science of curcumin, which has the most
evidence-based literature10
supporting its use against cancer of any other nutrient. This
includes vitamin D, which also has a robust base. Curcumin has been
shown to be nontoxic and appears to be safe in the treatment of all
cancers. Interestingly, it appears to be universally useful for just
about every type of cancer, which is quite odd considering cancer
consists of a wide variety of different molecular pathologies. You
wouldn’t necessarily suspect that there would be one herb that would
work for most of them.
As mentioned, curcumin has the ability to modulate genetic
activity and expression, and in cancer, it can both destroy cancer
cells and promote healthy cell function. It also promotes
anti-angiogenesis, meaning it helps prevent the development of
additional blood supply necessary for cancer cell growth, and
affects more than 100 different molecular pathways once it gets into
a cell.
As explained by Dr. LaValley, the curcumin molecule may cause
either an increase in activity of a particular molecular
target, or a decrease/inhibition of activity—either way,
studies repeatedly show that the end result is a potent anti-cancer
activity. This is why it appears to work for virtually all cancers.
Furthermore, curcumin does not adversely affect healthy cells,
suggesting it selectively targets cancer cells. Research has also
shown that it works synergistically with certain chemotherapy drugs,
enhancing the elimination of cancer cells.
How to Use Curcumin
For clinical results, it’s not enough to liberally add turmeric
to your food. The turmeric root itself contains only about three
percent curcumin concentration, and curcumin is poorly absorbed by
your body to boot. Even in supplement form it’s unlikely to provide
the results shown in various disease studies. Poor absorption is
also the drawback that makes curcumin unsuitable for emergency
treatment of stroke. When taken in its raw form, you’re only
absorbing about one percent of the available curcumin.
It is easiest and far more convenient to find a high-quality
turmeric extract that contains 100 percent certified organic
ingredients, with at least 95 percent curcuminoids. The formula
should be free of fillers, additives, and excipients (a substance
added to the supplement as a processing or stability aid), and the
manufacturer should use safe production practices at all stages:
planting, cultivation, selective harvesting, and then producing and
packaging the final product.
According to Dr. LaValley, typical anticancer doses are up to
three grams of good bioavailable curcumin extract, three to four
times daily. One work-around is to use raw curcumin powder and make
a microemulsion by combining a tablespoon of the powder with 1-2 egg
yolks and a teaspoon or two of melted
coconut oil. Use a high speed hand blender to emulsify it. Just
take precautions to avoid "yellow kitchen syndrome.” Curcumin is a
very potent yellow pigment and can permanently discolor surfaces if
you’re careless.
Another strategy that can help increase absorption is to put one
tablespoon of the curcumin powder into a quart of boiling water. It
must be boiling when you add the powder as it will not work as well
if you first put it in room temperature water and then heat the
water and curcumin. After boiling it for 10 minutes, you will have
created a 12 percent solution that you can drink once cooled. It
will have a woody taste. The curcumin will gradually fall out of
solution, however. In about six hours, it will be down to a six
percent solution, so it's best to drink the water within four hours.
Dr. LaValley is also helping us beta test new curcumin preparations
that will radically simplify this process.
Because it’s a fat-loving or lipophilic molecule, many newer
preparations now include some sort of oil or fat, which improves its
absorbability and bioavailability. Such preparations typically have
seven to eight times higher absorption than the raw, unprocessed
95-percent-concentration of dry powder. There are also newer
sustained release preparations, which Dr. LaValley prefers and
recommends.
Copyright 1997- 2014 Dr. Joseph Mercola. All Rights Reserved.